After bidding farewell to the ministers, San Yisheng hurriedly returned home.
Upon returning to the inner palace, Ji Fa went to see his father, Ji Chang, and told him about the matter that San Yisheng had reported. He explained that he was currently just an illegitimate son of Xiqi, and that through this matter, he could demonstrate his benevolence to Ji Chang, who was kind-hearted, and that if he proposed this method, Ji Chang would surely be pleased. Secondly, he could also demonstrate his political skills and attract Ji Chang's attention.
Upon hearing this, Ji Chang said, "My son, you have done an excellent job. Our Western Zhou has accumulated a great deal of wealth over generations. If we can enable the people to produce and develop better, it will naturally benefit the world. This San Yisheng is also a talented person; you must make good use of him." Ji Fa replied, "I understand." San Yisheng, having received Ji Fa's approval, began implementing the "nine-one-assistance" policy and worked day and night on this matter. He was so busy that he barely had time to eat, practically never having a place to stand. When the people heard that the Western Duke was implementing the "nine-one-assistance" policy, they all exclaimed how benevolent he was, and many people from other countries flocked to Xiqi.
A year later, thanks to the people's high morale and the influx of laborers from other countries, the Western Zhou's tax revenue not only did not decrease but actually increased slightly. Ji Fa was overjoyed upon hearing the news. He realized that this action not only enhanced his reputation for benevolence through propaganda but also maintained the tax revenue. Furthermore, it attracted many people from other countries, unintentionally strengthening his own power and weakening the Shang Dynasty. He immediately reported to Ji Chang, requesting that San Yisheng be promoted to the position of Grand Master, the head of all officials.
Ji Chang agreed, believing that San Yisheng was a talented individual. However, he did not expect that San Yisheng's heart had already turned to Ji Fa, making him an important pawn for Ji Fa to control the government.
When news of Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, reducing taxes for the people reached Chaoge, Emperor Xin greatly praised him and issued an edict calling him a model for all the feudal lords, ordering them to learn from Ji Chang. Upon receiving the edict, Ji Chang laughed heartily, and his ministers assumed his lord was simply pleased to receive the emperor's praise.
Thirteen Jiang Shang met Shen Gongbao
But let's talk about Jiang Shang, the one who bestowed the titles of gods on behalf of Heaven.
When Emperor Yi first ascended the throne, a Jiang family outside Chaoge had a son named Jiang Shang, courtesy name Ziya. He was born with the appearance of a flying bear and was destined to be a god.
The Jiang family was originally wealthy, but their fortunes declined and they could barely make ends meet. After Ziya was born, the family did their best to teach him to read and write, hoping that he would one day enter officialdom and bring glory to the family. Jiang Ziya also had this idea, but he wanted more to learn the way of immortality and achieve the art of immortality.
After his mother's death, Jiang Shang left Chaoge and traveled around, seeking immortals and the Dao. He hoped to achieve enlightenment and join the ranks of the immortals. However, he was destined by Heaven to be the one to be conferred the title of gods, and the Chan Sect was the protagonist in this conferment of the title of gods. Therefore, he had to become a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. So, although his heart was extremely sincere in seeking the Dao, he never encountered the opportunity to become an immortal.
On this day, he came to an unnamed mountain. The mountain was covered with lush trees, like a fairyland.
Jiang Ziya was enjoying the beautiful scenery when he heard someone calling him from behind. He turned around and saw a man in a black Taoist robe walking towards him. Jiang Ziya had been seeking immortality for many years and had rarely seen a Taoist. Seeing this man in a Taoist robe, he assumed he was an immortal and stepped forward to bow.
"Immortal Master, please accept me as your disciple." Jiang Ziya knelt down without waiting for the Taoist to explain.
People were so intimidated by Jiang Ziya's imposing manner that they didn't see anyone kneeling down and begging to be taken as a disciple.
He quickly helped Ziya up and said, "My name is Shen Gongbao, and I am not an immortal." Ziya did not believe him and said, "Disciple Jiang Ziya has been devoted to the Dao since childhood and has always wanted to seek immortals and visit the Dao. However, with my parents above me, I dared not leave my hometown. Three years ago, my mother passed away, so I set out to seek immortals and finally arrived here. To meet you, Immortal Master, is truly a blessing beyond measure. I beg you, Immortal Master, not to reject me and accept me as your disciple." After saying this, he was about to kneel down again.
Shen Gongbao quickly stopped him, saying, "I am indeed not an immortal. I am also a seeker of immortality and the Dao. Brother, you must not bow to me again. You are making me feel ashamed." After explaining himself, Jiang Ziya realized that this person was not an immortal, but a bear spirit who had attained enlightenment and was also on his way to seek an immortal to become his disciple and learn the Dao.
At first, Jiang Ziya felt somewhat ashamed of his recklessness. Later, when he learned that Shen Gongbao was not human but a monster, Ziya was not afraid at all. Instead, he looked at Shen Gongbao with great interest, as if trying to find something different about him.
Shen Gongbao grew impatient with his gaze and quickly pulled him aside, saying, "Brother, why are you looking at me like that? Do you look down on my extraordinary, enlightened form?" Ziya quickly begged for forgiveness, saying, "Please forgive me, brother. It's not that I look down on you, but I wonder what's so special about your extraordinary, enlightened form. I'm just a mortal, and I haven't seen anything particularly remarkable in all these years, so I lost my composure. Please forgive me." Although Shen Gongbao knew that Jiang Ziya didn't look down on him, he was still annoyed by being stared at, especially by an old man. He said, "It's fate that we've met. Why don't we go together to seek out the immortals? That way, we can look after each other on the road." Jiang Ziya readily agreed, and the two of them traveled around, searching for the traces of the immortals, hoping to become their disciples.
On this day, Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao, after going through countless hardships, finally arrived at the foot of Kunlun Mountain.
It turned out that during their travels, the two of them overheard others talking about the legendary tales of immortals in the Kunlun Mountains that they had heard about.
The storyteller was merely recounting a story, but Jiang Ziya discerned a profound meaning within it.
That's because there are more legends about immortals on Kunlun Mountain than anywhere else. It makes one think that there must be immortals living on Kunlun Mountain, otherwise there wouldn't be so many rumors about them. Only if there really are immortals on Kunlun Mountain who occasionally come down to help the mountain people would there be so many legends about immortals on Kunlun Mountain.
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