Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1033 Too Desirable to Improve
Upon arriving at the closed-off ancient city area, and hearing the increasingly clear and almost deafening sound of the rushing water beneath his feet, Zheng Lian's face darkened completely.

It felt as if water could be wrung out of my face.

The sound struck the eardrums again and again, and also the already taut nerves.

The air was filled with a damp, earthy smell and a faint, unsettlingly sweet, fishy odor.

He waved his hand, signaling his trusted aide on duty to open the hidden door behind the dilapidated brick wall.

A wave of heat, mixed with the smells of blood, mold, and burnt food, hit us, creating a stark contrast to the cool air outside.

Zheng Lian walked down the steps expressionlessly. The steps were steep and damp, and the torches stuck in the walls on both sides cast dim light, making his shadow look distorted and ghostly.

The further down you go, the clearer the sound becomes.

The shrill whistling of the whip tearing through the air, the muffled thud of it striking flesh, the suppressed screams of agony, and the teeth-grinding sizzle of the branding iron followed by heart-wrenching cries of pain.

The pleas for mercy came intermittently, mixed with sobs and incoherent explanations.

"Hmph! You dare beg for mercy!" Zheng Lian squeezed out these words through gritted teeth.

Thinking of his subservient and sweaty appearance in front of the eunuch, the undisguised scrutiny and pressure in the eunuch's eyes, and now the predicament he was in, a surge of anger rose to his head, burning his eyes red.

He strode into the depths of the dungeon and snatched a salt-soaked cowhide whip from a burly executioner.

Without uttering a word, he swung his arm in a wide arc and began to beat the several "human sticks" hanging on the rack, who were no longer human!
"You guys call this the Yuhe Ancient Road?!"

"You guys are saying the end is Yangcheng!"

"You guys actually said there would be a Holy Emperor's Treasure!"

"You guys told me to dig without worry..."

"You guys are saying there's no problem!"

With his last strike, he used all his strength to strike the chest of the guy who had been the most stubborn at first. The man's body convulsed violently, his head lolled to the side, and he fell silent.

The crackling and popping continued for the duration of an incense stick burning.

Only Zheng Lian's heavy breathing and the dull thud of the whip hitting the ground remained in the dungeon.

I'm exhausted. This job is not only physically demanding but also mentally exhausting.

Breath, angle, force—the slightest difference can lead to drastically different results, and what he just did was purely a chaotic outburst.

With a clang, he threw the blood-stained whip to the ground, staggered back a few steps, and slumped heavily into a chair covered with animal hide.

He rubbed his throbbing temples in pain, his fingertips icy cold.

Wrong, wrong, everything is wrong.

I shouldn't have taken such a big step for that path to success in the first place. It backfired, and now I'm in excruciating pain.

The strange noises from underground had actually been circulating in Xingyang City for some time.

As a thousand-year-old county town in the heart of the Central Plains, this place is home to many hidden talents. There are Taoist priests cultivating immortality in Taoist temples, high monks in seclusion in Buddhist monasteries, sorcerers who specialize in astrology, and even a few descendants of pre-Qin Qi practitioners who appeared out of nowhere.

As the prefect, Zheng Lian naturally recruited people from all walks of life: righteous and unorthodox, government-sponsored and unofficial, representing all sorts of people.

These extraordinary individuals consulted ancient books and records, observed celestial phenomena at night, and examined the earth's veins by day. After several days of debate, they finally reached a consensus.

The ceaseless sound of water surging underground could only be from the legendary ancient Yu River! And that ancient road must lead to Yangcheng, the capital of Yu, which has been lost to the long river of history!
What excited Zheng Lian even more was that several experts skilled in "observing qi" confidently asserted that they had seen a treasure aura soaring into the sky in the Xingyang area, with its radiant glow indicating that it was no ordinary treasure.

Strangely, no matter how many spells they used, they were unable to pinpoint the exact location of the treasure's aura.

"Besides the legendary Yangcheng, what other place can conceal the secrets of heaven, so that even we cannot see through them?" an old Taoist priest with white hair said, stroking his beard.

This statement was immediately echoed by everyone.

Yes, if it weren't for the relics of the Holy Emperor, how could it possess such supernatural power?
Zheng Lian's heart also warmed with excitement.

If the ruins of Yangcheng can truly be found, what earth-shattering treasures must be inside?
The best one would be one of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, which is a national treasure; another one would be the legendary Yu the Great River Map, which is also a legacy of the holy emperor; at the very least, it should be the divine iron used by Yu the Great to measure the rivers when he was controlling the floods.

No matter which one is found, sending it to Luoyang would be an unparalleled feat!

At that time, not only might they be promoted, but they might even be remembered in history.

With this in mind, Zheng Lian finally made up his mind. Especially when the highly respected old priest patted his chest and guaranteed, "If I cannot find Yangcheng, I will offer my head to you," his last trace of doubt vanished.

So many experts have reached the same conclusion, it can't be wrong, right?

Lord Zheng would naturally not let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance his career.

Ever since the theory of "Yudu Yangcheng" was proposed, people have been secretly dispatched under the guise of repairing water conservancy and reinforcing city defenses to carefully explore various parts of Xingyang.

In terms of water and soil management, the ancients were always meticulous.

This meticulousness does not stem from the careful consideration required for building the palace, but from lessons learned through thousands of years of warfare paid for with blood.

Conquering cities and seizing territories, flooding the seven armies—which of these is not related to water and soil?

Moreover, this place is a military stronghold guarding Luoyang, and it is also adjacent to the Yellow River, the mother river and a "tyrant," so they dare not do anything reckless.

If the digging is done in the wrong place, causing the foundation to collapse and the riverbank to break, then what you get will not be auspicious, but a harbinger of disaster that will wipe out your entire family.

In addition, Xingyang is located in the heart of the Central Plains civilization, and its feng shui pattern has been deeply rooted for thousands of years. The tombs and ancestral temples of emperors, generals, and noble families throughout history have been built against mountains and by water, so that a change in one part affects the whole.

Therefore, the excavation must be both precise and extremely secretive.

What may be a ladder to success for oneself could be a death sentence for others.

After several months of cautious progress, they finally found a natural fissure in the suburbs that appeared to lead to the depths. Zheng Lian was secretly delighted and immediately ordered that this be used as a breakthrough point, with secret digging day and night.

However... things are unpredictable.

Just at this critical juncture, a sudden flood occurred in the south before the Lunar New Year, with the flood peak reaching the sky, turning three prefectures almost into a vast expanse of water.

Although the floodwaters receded later, the people were displaced, their fields and houses were destroyed, and the people in the south were filled with fear. Even the emperor in Luoyang mourned and shed tears.

At this moment, an advisor seized the opportunity and advised Zheng Lian: "My lord, now that the floods have subsided, the people are restless. This is the time when auspicious omens are needed to calm their hearts. King Yu ascended to the throne for his achievements in controlling the floods. If you could take advantage of this opportune moment to present the treasures of Yangcheng to the emperor, wouldn't that be in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people, and a great achievement?"

These words struck a chord with Zheng Lian.

Before my eyes, I could almost see the Nine Tripods or the River Chart presented before the palace, the emperor's face beaming with joy, and the assembled ministers praising them. The timing was so perfect; it was truly the will of Heaven!

He paced in his study all night, sighing and lamenting by the flickering candlelight, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and shook his head. "No...it still won't work."

Zheng Lian still retained some rationality; he was well aware of the differences between the North and South.

In the eyes of the imperial court in Luoyang, matters concerning the emperor's own territory were of paramount importance. Although the floods in the south, thousands of miles away, were also severe, they were ultimately a distance away and could not truly shake the central government.

Officials and common people in the north didn't really feel the pain of that marshland, let alone empathize with it.

The concerns of the people were nothing more than whether a major epidemic would spread northward after the floodwaters receded, or whether the disaster victims would gather in rebellion and give rise to a few ignorant and arrogant rebels.

The so-called "pacifying people's hearts" ultimately means pacifying the hearts of those who have good intentions, and making the world believe that His Majesty is still divinely ordained and blessed with great fortune.

If we accelerate rashly at this point, the underground situation is unclear, the risks will increase sharply, and the "merits" we can gain may not be maximized.

Such unprofitable deals are not the choice of wise people.

So the excavation continued at its original pace, neither too fast nor too slow.

Another month or so passed.

Unexpected events can happen at any time. Suddenly, the White Lotus Sect broke out in Pei Kingdom. Those lawless madmen actually created a shocking phenomenon of "appearing day and night"!

This time, it truly shook the entire North.

The night was no longer pure; an eerie light enveloped the surrounding area. Even within Xingyang City, he personally witnessed that inappropriate bright color on the horizon.

The court and the public were in uproar, and people were filled with anxiety.

This time, the panic is imminent, no longer just a rumor from afar.

At this critical juncture, the advisor, adept at discerning the emperor's intentions, reappeared at the opportune moment, bowing and advising: "My lord, the White Lotus sorcery has bewitched the heavens, causing tremors in the north. This is precisely the crucial moment when the Emperor's legacy is needed to stabilize the people's hearts! If you could seize this opportunity to present the treasures from the ruins of King Yu to the Emperor, demonstrating that the Holy Way still exists and the Mandate of Heaven is not waning, wouldn't that be an unparalleled achievement? At that time, you would be favored by the Emperor, and your future would be limitless!"

These words struck Zheng Lian like a heavy hammer blow to his heart.

Yes, if one were to offer up the Emperor's legacy at this time, it would not only relieve the court from its predicament, but also bind oneself to the great cause of "stabilizing the world".

This achievement is more than ten times greater than the treasures presented after the flood!
His breathing quickened, and an uncontrollable heat flashed in his eyes.

"I will think about it."

The last vestiges of reason in his mind were still struggling, reminding him that acting hastily at this moment was too risky.

Xingyang County is too close to Luoyang, the furthest point being no more than four hundred li away, and the closest only three hundred li away. Under the emperor's watchful eye, once a mistake is made, there is no room for redemption.

Just as the heavens and the people were locked in a fierce battle, news that came from Luoyang that night was like a bucket of cold water poured on them.

The newly appointed Grand Astrologer single-handedly contained the effects of the "day and night" phenomenon within the territory of Pei State!

When the news spread, it was met with praise from both the court and the public, and His Majesty was overjoyed.

Zheng Lian was immediately deflated. At this point, even if he dug up something overnight, it would be nothing more than picking up scraps from others, and would seem so insignificant in the face of the Grand Astrologer's heroic act of turning the tide.

The wise do not engage in such acts that benefit others.

However, the third opportunity came so swiftly and terrifyingly—"Mars guards the heart"!
This time, the celestial changes no longer distinguished between north and south.

That scarlet harbinger star hung high in the night sky, visible throughout the entire land of Kyushu.

Even more terrifying was that the celestial signs pointed directly at Ziwei, clearly aimed at him, the Emperor of the Great Jin! This was a true matter of life and death, and the entire court and the people were terrified.

The aide appeared once again at the opportune moment, but his voice was more urgent than the previous two times:

"My lord! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! There is no greater merit than saving the emperor! The celestial signs are warning us, pointing directly at His Majesty. If we can offer up the Emperor's legacy now, it will not only calm the hearts of the people, but also His Majesty's heart!"

He lowered his voice, each word piercing to the heart: "Your Majesty's heart is the heart of all the people of the Nine Provinces; Your Majesty's safety is the safety of the entire nation!"

These words completely shattered Zheng Lian's last hesitation.

"it is good!"

He slammed his hand on the table, his eyes no longer showing any hesitation. If he didn't act now, when would he?!
"Pass down the order!" Zheng Lian's voice was resolute. "All manpower, roll up your sleeves and dig! All those sorcerers, magicians, and feng shui masters we recruited before, get them moving in full force! They must find the entrance for me!"

As the excavation progresses, a flurry of activity is being created to create a buzz around the site.

The dusty books and documents were unearthed one by one, and carefully selected passages were highlighted; renowned elders and scholars from the prefecture, as well as passing monks and Taoist priests, were all solemnly invited to the scene.

Everyone gathered in the sealed-off area, holding their breath and listening intently.

The sound of rushing water deep underground grew clearer, like muffled thunder or a stampede of ten thousand horses, carrying an ancient and magnificent aura that penetrated the thick soil and reached the heart.

"This is a sign of the revival of the ancient Yu River waterway!" An elderly scholar with white hair exclaimed excitedly, his beard trembling.

"The water is powerful and majestic, imbued with the aura of a king; only the relics of a holy emperor could possess such a phenomenon!" A Taoist master exclaimed in admiration.

These scenes and these remarks were recorded in detail and quickly transmitted to Luoyang.

The value of auspicious omens lies in the fact that they are "clearly divine will and aligned with the will of the people."

If something is simply dug up from the ground, unless it is an undeniable national treasure like the Nine Cauldrons, its impact and persuasiveness will be greatly diminished.

We must first let His Majesty and the people of the world "hear" the momentum and "feel" the will of Heaven. Only then can the appearance of the treasure achieve the effect of making a final decision and shocking the court and the public.

Finally, on a dark night when the stars and moon were out, as the excavation reached an unprecedented depth, the shouts of the craftsmen, a mixture of fear and ecstasy, came from ahead!

“It’s working! It’s working!”

A torrent of yellowish-brown water rushed out from behind the broken rock wall, instantly filling the tunnel.

The water was murky, carrying mud and sand, and under the torchlight, it gleamed with an ancient and heavy luster.

"Yellow Springs! It's the Yellow Springs!"

One of the scholars, well-versed in ancient texts, was so excited that his voice trembled, and he immediately sent someone to report back.

"My lord! The guards have dug up the 'Yellow Springs'!" The trusted aide ran up to Zheng Lian, panting as he reported the good news.

"Great! Heaven is on my side!" Zheng Lian was overjoyed upon hearing this and suddenly stood up from his seat.

The term "Yellow Springs" here does not refer to the netherworld, but rather originates from the deep loess layer of the Central Plains.

The groundwater that gushed out when the deep pit was dug was yellow because it was mixed with loess, hence the name. The fact that such a large amount of "Yellow Spring" is gushing out at this moment seems to perfectly match historical records: the water drawn by the Yu River was precisely the Yellow River carrying sand and mud!

(End of this chapter)