Chapter 5 Li Sao Many people went to pan for gold before, one after another…
Many people who had gone to pan for gold before contracted schistosomiasis one after another. After discussing with other people in the know, An decided to keep the news a secret. Now that a solution has been found, An can finally relieve the pressure and confess to his people.
The clan funds the burial of the deceased young adults, and the clan also funds the support of their relatives.
Rumors about the gold rush had already begun to circulate among the tribe. After all, it was difficult to completely conceal the news from dozens of people, so An decided to tell his tribe. The Keluo people were all in the same boat; anyone who revealed the gold rush would face certain death.
Rather than letting the people of our tribe be suspicious and anxious, it's better to speak openly.
Moreover, with the newly appointed shaman Lin Fengzhi stating that it wasn't divine punishment but simply a matter of removing the snails, the credibility has greatly increased.
From then on, the campaign to eradicate Oncomelania snails was carried out vigorously in Qingcaoshan.
Lin Fengzhi didn't sit idle either; she picked up the original owner's old profession.
Because An had suggested that after the snail eradication had been effective, they should hold a prayer ceremony to send away the Gu and transfer the disease to calm the hearts of the clansmen, Lin Fengzhi agreed without much thought.
She had already witnessed the powerful influence of the witch among the Koruo people, and coincidentally, what she wanted to do required absolute authority.
She recalled all of the original owner's memories of the shaman and found them very interesting.
First, shamans communicate with spirits through singing, dancing, or specific rituals to resolve problems in the lives of their people. Because they are responsible for divination, healing, and presiding over funeral rites, shamans are seen as mediators between humans and gods. Furthermore, shamans within the tribe are not merely religious figures; they may also serve as advisors and healers.
Therefore, shamans often held a very high status.
The process of becoming a shaman differs among different ethnic groups. For the Koruo people, the test to become a shaman is essentially surviving a severe illness. Like the original body, one must survive being immersed in cold water and suffering from high fever.
It's hard to say whether this is choosing a representative of the gods or a robust and resilient animal.
The men are called shamans, and the women are called witches. The Khoro people have more faith in the female witches than in the male shamans. They believe that women's fertility is a gift from heaven and that they are better able to communicate with the gods.
The Keluo people believe in the spirits created by mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, such as the spirits Xiangjun and Xiangfuren worshipped on Qingcao Mountain. They believe that mountains and rivers have spirits and control the wind, rain, and harvests.
The Qu clan, a powerful family living in the county, had a much more complex set of beliefs. They not only worshipped mountain and river deities, but also their ancestors. The original owner of this body heard that every May they would go to the riverbank to offer prayers and sacrifices to a highly talented and virtuous member of the Qu clan.
As for why the original owner knew this, it was because the sacrificial texts she knew by heart were said to be all written by that Qu family member.
Qu Yuan's writings blend myths and legends, resulting in a graceful, magnificent, and unrestrained style. He makes extensive use of the particle "兮" to regulate rhythm, creating a melodious and varied rhythm when sung.
Almost everyone who has read his articles has remarked that Qu Yuan must have met a deity, or that he himself was a deity.
Lin Fengzhi stroked the smooth bamboo slip in her hand, her fingertips brushing over the familiar yet unfamiliar characters, her expression gradually becoming strange.
May, Qu Yuan, literature, mythology...
Could the Qu family really be named Qu Yuan?
As if eager to verify something, Lin Fengzhi opened all the bamboo slips related to the Qu family on her desk. She carefully examined each poem: "Heavenly Questions," "Summoning the Soul," "The Great Master of Fate," "The Lesser Master of Fate," and so on...
Finally, she saw it—
I am a descendant of Emperor Gaoyang, and my royal father was named Boyong.
......
I sigh deeply and wipe away my tears, lamenting the many hardships of the people's lives!
"Li Sao"
The words in front of Lin Fengzhi's eyes slowly blurred, her expression a mixture of crying and laughing, and she wiped her eyes.
I sigh deeply and wipe away my tears, lamenting the many hardships of the people's lives!
The only Qu Yuan poem she had ever read appeared before her in this form many years later. She could no longer recite "Li Sao" from memory as easily as she had in high school, but she would always remember the poem: "I sigh deeply and wipe away my tears, lamenting the hardships of the people's lives." When she studied "Li Sao," she was a high school student focused solely on studying and striving to get into a good university. To read "Li Sao" again after so many years was to witness this scene.
Things have really changed.
She gazed out the window at the people working diligently in the fields, as if she could smell the aroma of ripening rice. The sun rose and set on this land, and the rice was harvested more than two thousand times, until she returned to the time and space where she originally lived.
That's good, she's still on that land.
Lin Fengzhi suddenly understood the literati who expressed their feelings through poetry and songs. Her talent was not so profound that she could not express the complexity of her heart at this moment in words.
She was floating in the void when suddenly a rope appeared between heaven and earth, pulling her soul down from the sky.
She became grounded again.
-
The First Emperor was very anxious, so much so that two blisters appeared on the corners of his mouth.
That day, he thought the black bird appearing in his dream meant that Heaven was blessing the Great Qin, and that destiny was on his side.
Three to five days passed, and Meng Yi had almost finished preparing the supplies Xu Fu needed for his voyage. He was waiting for the governor of Langya to send over the boys and girls.
When Xia Wuqie came to take the First Emperor's pulse as usual, he was shocked by the First Emperor.
The First Emperor had a vertical line between his eyebrows, indicating excessive liver fire.
Xia Wuqie quickly reviewed the recent major political events in his mind. Langya Commandery was the former territory of the State of Qi, and it had only been under the jurisdiction of the State for a short time. Could it be that the governor and magistrate were not strict in their administration, and the matter had been passed on to the First Emperor? Even so, His Majesty would not be worried about appearances.
Could it be that relocating 30,000 households to Langya was not going well? That shouldn't be the case either, as countless people would be eager to be exempt from taxes for twelve years.
Xia Wuqie was completely baffled.
Suddenly, a question came from beside him: "Minister Xia, am I alright?"
Xia Wuqie came to his senses and realized that his fingers were still on the First Emperor's pulse. He repeatedly apologized, saying, "Your Majesty is in good health, but your liver fire is a little too strong."
Xia Wuqie was not worried that the First Emperor would punish him for this moment of distraction. Firstly, the First Emperor had always been tolerant of useful talents. Secondly, Xia Wuqie had once thrown a medicine bag at Jing Ke during Jing Ke's assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang, buying the First Emperor time and thus saving his life.
The First Emperor therefore exclaimed that he had no love for me.
As expected, the First Emperor merely glanced at Xia Wuqie before saying, "It seems that Wuqie was lost in thought when he was discussing medical techniques with Xu Fu late into the night."
Xia Wuqie smiled sheepishly, not expecting the matter to have reached the Emperor's ears. Speaking of medicine, Xia Wuqie couldn't help but feel sorry for Xu Fu; such a fine doctor, how could he have gone to study the Daoist arts? Xu Fu was quite knowledgeable in medicine, so Xia Wuqie also spoke a few good words for him: "Your Majesty, Xu Fu's acupuncture skills are superb. If he had devoted himself to medicine, he might very well have become a renowned physician in the future."
There are many doctors in the world, but very few who can help him seek immortality and enlightenment.
The First Emperor did not respond.
Xia Wuqie wisely kept quiet and packed up his medicine bag to leave. Suddenly, the First Emperor asked, "I dreamt of a black bird a few nights ago. I thought it was a blessing from heaven. Why hasn't it appeared in my dreams for the past few days?"
If Zhao Gao, Meng Yi, or Li Si were present before the emperor at that moment, they would have understood the emperor's intentions and offered words of comfort to Ying Zheng.
But here was Xia Wuqie, who knew how to be tactful but not very tactful. Even Meng Yi dared not advise the First Emperor against taking the elixir, yet Xia Wuqie stubbornly tried to persuade the emperor several times. He said, "Your Majesty, what you think about during the day, you dream about at night. Waiting for the black bird to enter your dreams, or for Xu Fu to bring you the elixir of immortality, are all like castles in the air..."
Xia Wuqie didn't say anything more. He had already angered Ying Zheng for this, and some things were best left unsaid. He was also wondering if he should try a different approach to prove his doubts.
The First Emperor looked at him coldly, recalling how the man had repeatedly questioned his pursuit of immortality and the consumption of elixirs, and couldn't help but feel displeased. Ying Zheng was well aware that many in the Qin Dynasty opposed his quest for the elixir of immortality, but so what? Previous rulers had failed because they lacked merit and sincerity.
His virtue surpassed that of the Three Sovereigns and his achievements surpassed those of the Five Emperors. What's wrong with pursuing immortality? Right now, with the Qin Dynasty's foundation set for ten thousand generations, who among his sons could take over the responsibility besides him?
When the First Emperor saw the medicine pouch in Xia Wuqie's hand, he simply scolded, "Get out."
......
The First Emperor was displeased, so he summoned Xu Fu to give him a mental massage.
Xu Fu, true to his reputation as a shrewd man who dared to deceive the First Emperor, used his witty remarks to delight Ying Zheng. Xia Wuqie said that seeking the elixir of immortality was a pipe dream, but Xu Fu directly pledged his loyalty to Ying Zheng, repeatedly describing how wonderful his days in the Three Divine Mountains were.
He said that behind layers of mist, the sacred mountain floats in the clouds, its steps made of gold and jade, with flowing streams connecting the peaks. Palaces with upturned eaves are hidden in the seven-colored glow of the sunset, and immortals ride the wind within the sacred mountain. Phoenixes sing in harmony at Penglai, black dragons soar at Yingzhou, and the Fountain of Immortality appears at Fangzhang...
The sacred mountain is shrouded in mist and cannot be seen by anyone but those with sincere hearts and a special affinity.
Speaking of sincerity, Xu Fu said in a low voice, "The journey to the sea is not smooth sailing. There are dragons in the sea that block the way. I am taking three thousand boys and girls, as well as a hundred craftsmen and provisions, to offer sacrifices to the sea god and to communicate with the immortals if necessary."
The First Emperor, still eager for more, understood Xu Fu's implication: "I have already sent people to make arrangements. I expect we will be able to set sail in less than half a month."
Xu Fu smiled slightly and offered more bait to lure the First Emperor. He claimed with certainty that he had seen immortals and wanted to replicate their clothing and appearance for the emperor. He looked around, asked for a slender palace maid, and asked the emperor to wait a moment. Before long, he brought the disguised palace maid forward.
I wonder how Xu Fu dressed that palace maid. The woman had her hair styled in a fairy-like bun, her skin was as white as ice and snow, she was adorned with five-colored flowers, and her clothes were ethereal, making her seem like a fairy princess.
The First Emperor's harem was filled with beauties, and he was already immune to anyone with even a little bit of attractiveness. He admired the palace women's novel and ethereal attire and immediately ordered that all women in the palace should dress like that from now on.
Then, Xu Fu presented another crimson elixir.
The First Emperor was extremely excited and swallowed the elixir, as if he had already ingested the potion of immortality. This excited state of mind lasted until he fell asleep that night.
When he heard the cry of the black bird, his heart was filled with excitement.
It's finally here.
The black bird, entirely jet black, landed arrogantly on a branch of a paulownia tree. Then it flapped its wings, and a shimmering light fell with its movement. It spread its wings, and red flames ignited at the tip of its tail feathers. It flew towards the southwest horizon, and the First Emperor's dream changed accordingly.
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