The team continued to march forward under the sun. Zhuge Jin sighed slightly after hearing this: "This time is different from the past. Zihuang, please be patient for now."
"There is a rumor going around in Wuchang recently. I wonder if Zihuang has heard of it?"
Quan Cong frowned: "What do you mean?"
Zhuge Jin snorted and said, "The most useful people in front of the Supreme are Hu, Lu, Ge, and Yin."
Quan Cong shook his head: "Hu Wei is easier to deal with, he is a trusted and important minister of the Supreme. Ge Xuanyinfan, a Taoist priest and a surrendered minister, are both people who are building momentum for the Supreme."
"The only person who is most despicable is Lu Yi, who is in charge of school affairs!"
Just as Quan Cong was complaining, Prime Minister Gu Yong, who was walking in front, suddenly turned half of his body, frowned and looked at Quan Cong, and then continued to move forward.
So Quan Cong didn't dare to say anything more.
The West Mountain is about five miles away from Wuchang City, and one has to climb a mountain road. After all the ministers had lined up in the open space in front of Dongxuan Temple, Sun Quan signaled Lü Yi to go forward and knock on the gate of Dongxuan Temple.
Obviously, this was a scene that had been rehearsed long ago.
Lü Yi had just knocked on the door when the gate of Dongxuan Temple opened and Ge Xuan, the Taoist priest, walked out. Ge Xuan's hair and beard were slightly gray, and he was wearing a Taoist robe with the shape of the Eight Diagrams painted on it. He quickly walked to Sun Quan and bowed.
"Welcome to the Supreme! I have been waiting here for a long time, please come in."
Sun Quan nodded slightly: "Tianshi, please come first."
Hearing Sun Quan's polite words, Ge Xuan only led half a body and guided Sun Quan to walk inside. The two entered the mountain gate and climbed many stairs before walking into the main hall and bowed three times.
As for the ministers who followed behind, they also followed closely into the main hall. Fortunately, the Dongxuan Monastery was spacious, just like the main hall of the King of Wu's palace, so the ministers were finally able to avoid the summer heat.
The Taoist children handed out mats to the ministers one by one. After everyone sat down, their eyes were focused on Sun Quan and Ge Xuan, who were sitting opposite each other in the front. As for those who were sitting in the back and couldn't see, they also pricked up their ears.
Ge Xuan bowed and saluted, then said: "Thanks to the grace of the Supreme, the small temple was completed, which is indeed a good deed that brings immeasurable blessings. Today, the Supreme is on a tour here, and I have also gained something recently, and I would like to report it to the Supreme."
Sun Quan nodded slightly: "Tianshi, please speak."
Ge Xuan flicked his whisk, and perhaps due to the resonance of his chest or some method of raising the voice in this hall, his voice became unusually loud:
"Wuchang has the aura of an emperor. The Han dynasty has declined, and a king will emerge from this place!"
Sun Quan seemed to be startled by Ge Xuan's voice and asked in confusion, "What does Heavenly Master mean by this?"
Ge Xuan said slowly: "I have three things to say!"
"Master, please speak."
Ge Xuan looked at the ministers of Wu:
"Wuchang is actually located at the strategic point of the Yangtze and Han Rivers. The Turtle and Snake Mountains are sandwiched between the Yangtze River. It controls Jingxiang in the west and locks Chaisang in the east. It is where the dragon veins converge, and the dragon veins of the Han River move to the Yangtze River. I observe the astronomy and the geomancy, and I think Wuchang will produce an emperor! This is one of them!"
"The star Wuchang is divided into Yizhen and Chonglou, shining down. Taiyi Palace is overlooking the west wall of Taiwei, Mars retreats and purple air penetrates the sky, which is just in time for the emperor to rise! This is the second one!"
"This year, Xiakou and Wuchang both reported the appearance of a yellow dragon and a phoenix, which is a sign of good fortune and virtue. The so-called Son of Heaven is the most virtuous person in the world. The auspicious signs of the yellow dragon and the phoenix are a sign of the prosperity of the empire! This is the third one!"
Quan Cong was sitting at the table in the hall, watching Ge Xuan speaking about the auspicious signs in a very Taoist manner. He was really confused and became curious.
Was it because of fate that ministers like himself gathered by the side of the King of Wu to accomplish such a feat, or was it that the king's imperial career was bestowed by heaven and the King of Wu was supposed to achieve it?
Of course, it was impossible to think through this question for a while. Listening to Ge Xuan lecturing the King of Wu on the profound Taoist theories, Quan Cong did not understand much and felt bored and even a little drowsy.
But when Quan Cong saw Lu Yi standing aside, patrolling the room like a royal censor, his disgust deepened.
Let these people be arrogant for a while!
……
Outside Wuchang on August 1, the sun was blazing and the autumn heat was still fierce. But further north in Yingchuan County, Yuzhou, lightning was flashing and heavy rain was pouring down.
The people had already been arranged to stay in their houses to avoid the rain, while Sima Zhao and Shan Tao stood under the eaves, staring at the pouring rain in a daze.
Sima Zhao swallowed lightly and said, "Brother Juyuan, the weather records of Xuchang in recent years have been compiled and distributed by the county. You and I have read them."
"In the past few years, there hasn't been such heavy rain! It's noon now, and the sky is as dark as ink. There is almost no light. It's a bit abnormal!"
Shan Tao sighed, "There hasn't been such heavy rain in recent years. But what about in the past?"
"Further ahead?" Sima Zhao took a breath. "Brother Juyuan, are you talking about the heavy rain in the fourth year of Huangchu? I was still young at that time, so I don't remember it so clearly. I just remember that it seemed like a whole summer, and a lot of water entered the city."
Shan Tao nodded: "Zishang was in Luoyang at that time, right?"
"Correct."
"I was at home in Hanoi, and it rained intermittently for nearly three months. The Yellow River, Yishui River, and Luoshui River all overflowed, and Luoyang was even worse." Shan Tao rambled on and on: "I heard that the floodwaters in Luoyang City were as high as 45 feet!"
Sima Zhao suddenly realized: "I remember now! Brother Juyuan, do you remember the poem written by Prince Yongqiu in the anthology sent by Chongwenguan?"
Shan Tao asked, "How wide and deep are Yi and Luo?"
"Yes." Sima Zhao said, "Yi and Luo are wide and deep. There is no bridge to cross the river. I sail across the surging waves, but I complain that the road east is long."
"I have some impression of this poem." Shan Tao continued, "And the weather records in Yingchuan County clearly state that heavy rains continued for a hundred days in Yingchuan County, which is a rare event in history. And the records also say that the walls and palaces of Xuchang City were destroyed a lot."
Sima Zhao sighed, "Could it be that the fourth year of Taihe will also see floods like the fourth year of Huangchu? I wonder if the word 'four' is taboo, otherwise why would it be like this?"
Shan Tao said with emotion: "When we built the dam some time ago, you and I didn't understand it at that time, but now we know the importance of the dam. You and I are in charge of the farming affairs in Yingchuan County, and we know that the affairs of the world are not easy!"
Sima Zhao sat on the ground, leaning against the wall, and murmured, "Who says it's not true? Farming is difficult, all industries are difficult, and national affairs are difficult. It's hard to have good weather for a few years, but the weather looks like a flood is coming again."
"Brother Juyuan, today I understand how difficult the court is. You and I are in Yingchuan, facing heavy rain and ditches, and we are already in such a predicament. The court has so many counties and such a wide area, and we have to take care of them one by one. Isn't it a hundred times more difficult?"
Shan Tao glanced at Sima Zhao and said, "Then we need a talented person like your father to assist us in government affairs."
"Of course." Sima Zhao responded, "My father is one of the Three Dukes, assisting Your Majesty in the cabinet and participating in military affairs in the army. My uncle is the governor of Liangzhou and governs a province, my cousin is one of the Nine Ministers and is in charge of important affairs, and my brother is an official in Yangzhou and works hard. I don't know when I can sit in their positions."
Shan Tao was silent for a few moments: "You are a child of a noble family, and you have such talent in your belly. Sooner or later, you will become a pillar of the country!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shan Tao seemed to see a vague black shadow coming towards him in the distance, and quickly nudged Sima Zhao with his elbow.
The two watched for a while before they realized it was a motorcade. When the motorcade got closer, Shan Tao and Sima Zhao suddenly realized that it was the carriage of Huang Quan, the governor of Yuzhou! (End of this chapter)
