Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3943 The Story of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao: The Answer in the Mist

A sudden storm, though eventually subsided, caused the Qiao sisters and their party to deviate from their original course.

When the storm finally subsided and the sea and sky returned to their clear state, Rugi, relying on the stars and the remaining nautical charts, determined that they had been blown off course.

In the vastness of the sea and sky, there was no place to determine direction. We could only rely on the sun and moon to sail westward, trying to determine our course after reaching the shore.

After drifting for more than a day, the hazy outline of land finally appeared ahead.

The crew members were immediately overjoyed and encouraged each other to move forward.

After the boat docked, it was discovered to be a harbor with a gentle beach and hills.

After climbing the hill, you can see wisps of smoke rising in the distance, indicating that there are people living there.

Lu Ji sent his crew ashore to investigate, only to find that the storm had blown them to the vicinity of Dong'an County in Kuaiji Prefecture!
They tried very hard to get away from Jiangdong, but unexpectedly, they were swept away by the wind and waves and returned to the southeastern coast under Sun Quan's rule.

Of course, due to the relatively poor governance of Jiangdong, Kuaiji Commandery could be considered one of the larger commanderies in the Three Kingdoms period. Most of the inhabitants lived together with the Yue people in the mountains. Although the territory was large, there were not many Jiangdong troops stationed there.

Lu Ji wanted to leave but was worried about causing trouble. However, the ship needed repairs, the crew needed rest, and fresh water and food needed to be replenished. So he had no choice but to risk docking. While the crew repaired the ship as much as possible, he took some people and escorted the two Qiaos, who had changed into ordinary clothes, to the county town to find a market and quietly buy some supplies.

However, in such a remote place, anyone who appears will immediately attract the attention of the locals.

Although Luji and his party of several dozen people dressed as simply as possible, not wanting to disturb the local area, they still caused some commotion, and the news quickly reached the ears of the magistrate of Dong'an County.

The magistrate of Dong'an County was surnamed Chen.

When someone like the magistrate of Dong'an County is dispatched to such a remote county, the outcome is generally polarized: one group becomes completely inactive, while the other group has some ambition and wants to climb back...

Magistrate Chen is still young and ambitious.

Upon hearing that some strangers of unknown origin, who seemed to have military bearing, had landed with their female relatives, Magistrate Chen immediately became suspicious and sent soldiers to find Lu Ji and his companions.

Upon seeing Lu Ji and his party, the magistrate of Dong'an County felt somewhat heavy-hearted.

Because among Ruji and his men, there were clearly some fierce and ruthless individuals!

Although they weren't wearing armor and were only carrying a staff and a bow, the magistrate of Dong'an County knew that there must be gun barrels and bowstrings hidden in their packages!
According to the current laws of the Han Dynasty, commoners are not allowed to carry sharpened swords in the marketplace.

You can carry a long spear, but the spearhead must be removed.

Crossbows are not allowed, but bows and arrows are permitted, provided the bowstring is unstrung.

These men were physically imposing, yet they obeyed the law and made it clear that they did not want to cause trouble.

Seeing this, Magistrate Chen was also thinking about how he could gain some merit. Even if he couldn't make the arrest on the spot, he could still report some clues, which might be considered as a cumulative achievement in the future.

"Who are you? Where do you come from? Where are you going?" the magistrate of Dong'an County asked in a deep voice. "Do you have any travel permits?"

Magistrate Chen's gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Lu Ji, who was dressed as a steward, and his tone was serious.

Lu Ji's heart tightened, but he forced a fawning smile and stepped forward to bow: "Your father, I am the steward of the Lu family of Wu County. I was ordered by my master to escort the two ladies back to Jiangdong... Unexpectedly, we encountered a storm the other day, our ship was damaged, and we lost our way. We were fortunate enough to drift to this place. I have come here only to make some repairs and purchase some items; I have no other intentions."

Lu Ji specifically mentioned "the Lu family of Wu County" partly to make Lu Su more cautious by leveraging Lu Su's reputation, and partly to conceal the influence of the Qiao sisters and the Zhou family's overseas influence.

"Return to Jiangdong?" Magistrate Chen clearly didn't believe this vague explanation, especially after his gaze lingered for a moment on the slender figures of the two Qiao sisters, both wearing veils. "Then who are these two ladies? Are they registered?"

Magistrate Chen vaguely sensed that these two women possessed extraordinary qualities, unlike those from ordinary families.

Was it collected by the Lu family to be presented to Sun Quan?

Magistrate Chen would naturally not dare to easily set his sights on such a person, but if he could obtain some information from her, could he perhaps establish some connections? Therefore, Magistrate Chen did not ask Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao to lift their veils to see their appearance, but instead directly inquired about their household registration.

Household registration can determine a lot of things...

However, Lu Ji was in a hurry to pick up people and take them overseas. He was busy with all sorts of things and never expected that they would turn back into Jiangdong territory, so he didn't prepare any household registration documents.

According to Han law, people without household registration were considered refugees.

And homeless people have no human rights...

In his haste, Lu Ji remembered the reverence the people on the ship held for the two Qiao sisters, especially the younger Qiao sister's 'shamanic' abilities. He lowered his voice and said, "I dare not conceal this from your father, but... these two ladies are no ordinary people... they are... they are shamans who can communicate with the sea god! My master is sincere and specially invited the two of them to the sacred mountain in Jiangdong to pray for blessings! The other day, we encountered a sudden storm at sea, and it was only through the shamans' intervention that the storm subsided."

In Jiangdong at present, both prophetic sayings and beliefs in gods and Buddhas are quite prevalent. On the one hand, there is still a certain gap between the production and living standards in the south and those in the central plains. On the other hand, there are many mosquitoes and parasites in the south, and people are easily infected if they are not careful, often resulting in epilepsy and other strange physical symptoms. This makes the people increasingly reverent towards all kinds of gods and immortals. It is even believed that there is a god on a mountain and different immortals within a ten-mile radius.

"A witch?" Upon hearing this, Magistrate Chen frowned even more deeply.

Shrine maidens, of course, do not have any household registration.

Without a household registration, you're not considered a person...

Moreover, it turns out that Lu Su, Lu Zijing, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, is also going to follow the path of a treacherous minister?

If that's the case...

Magistrate Chen suddenly remembered the story of Ximen Bao, and smiled, "You all say this is a witch... but as the saying goes, words are no proof... If she can communicate with the sea god and calm the storms, she must have great supernatural powers... Our Dong'an County is located near the sea, and there are many boatmen in the county who all rely on the sea for their livelihood, and they are most afraid of the dangers of the wind and waves."

Magistrate Chen stared at Lu Ji and said in a deep voice, "If you two are truly witches, why don't you pray here and in front of everyone for the boatmen of Dong'an County, praying for calm seas and bountiful catches... If your prayers are answered, I will naturally treat you with courtesy and provide you with the necessary supplies..."

Just as Ximen Bao rose to fame by marrying a woman, the magistrate of Dong'an County may well rise to fame by burning witches today!

Magistrate Chen believed that the reputation of the sorcerer was mostly a hypothesis. He thought that he could not only gain a reputation for being discerning, but also use this opportunity to advance his career!

Of course, this is only the Lu family, not the four great families of Jiangdong...

If it were someone from one of the four great families, Magistrate Chen would have accepted it even if it were a female ghost, let alone a witch.

Lu Ji was immediately alarmed and tried to refuse again, but Magistrate Chen had him under control, and for a moment they were deadlocked.

Praying for blessings in public?

Rugi is educated too!

This is like roasting them over a fire!
How can we guarantee that the so-called "come true" will be fulfilled?
If it proves ineffective, it will confirm that the person is spreading heresies and misleading the public, and the punishment will range from shackles to beheading!

At this point, it's too late to back out...

After the group settled into the city's inn, Lu Ji peeked through the doors and windows at the soldiers guarding the courtyard. His face was ashen. He turned to the two Qiao sisters and said, "I was careless for a moment. I didn't expect that Magistrate Chen doesn't believe in ghosts and gods! This public blessing is clearly an attempt to punish us! We shouldn't stay here any longer. Tonight, I'll lead some men to create some chaos and distract them. The two ladies can then board the ship, and we can leave the port tonight. Although it will be risky, it's better than being controlled by these scoundrels!"

Da Qiao was indifferent.

Xiao Qiao sat quietly on the simple mat, her veil removed, revealing a slightly pale but unusually serene face. She gently stroked the cool bronze mirror Zhou Yu had given her, hidden in her sleeve. After a moment's thought, she shook her head and said, "No, we won't leave."

"Madam!" Rugi exclaimed anxiously.

"I believe Zhou Yu's spirit in heaven is protecting me!" Xiao Qiao raised her head, her eyes flashing with an almost obsessive light. "Last time, it was Zhou Yu's spirit in heaven that protected me and calmed the storm! This time, he won't abandon me either! Since the magistrate wants to pray for blessings, I will pray for him! If Zhou Yu still wants me to travel east, he will surely respond again!"

Rugi was speechless. "This, this..."

Lu Jitong couldn't say that Zhou Yu was dead, since the miraculous scene at sea had actually happened...

Perhaps they were truly under the protection of Zhou Yu, the Grand Marshal?
Rugi looked up at the sky, momentarily at a loss for words.

Da Qiao grasped her sister's hand worriedly, "Sister, this is too risky..."

"Sister, from the day we left Jiangdong, there was no turning back." Xiao Qiao gripped Da Qiao's hand firmly. "If we flee today, what if something happens tomorrow, and we flee again? And the day after? Besides, once we flee, it will show we have a guilty conscience, confirming our suspicions, and we'll inevitably attract troops to hunt us down! We have no choice but to trust Zhou Yu, and trust myself, and take this gamble!"

"Besides..." Xiao Qiao pulled a piece of silk from her sleeve, on which were some small characters written, "After I saw the calm seas and the crew's eagerness to return home, I secretly kept an eye on the changes in the wind and waves... This is what I recorded..."

Xiao Qiao handed the silk cloth to Da Qiao, saying, "From my observation, the wind is stronger in the morning and evening, and less so around noon..."

"But this still isn't foolproof..." Da Qiao said, "What if... what if..."

"What if..." Xiao Qiao, perhaps having been by Zhou Yu's side for so long and influenced by his surroundings, or perhaps having experienced the trials of the sea, was gradually revealing her sharpness. "Manager Lu, you could make an excuse that you need to prepare offerings for blessings and send someone back to gather manpower... There will definitely be crowds of people, and the scene will inevitably be chaotic. If things go wrong... it would be much safer to incite a commotion and escape in the chaos than to take action directly now..."

After thinking it over, Lu Ji realized that it would indeed be safer than Xiao Qiao had said. Seeing that Xiao Qiao was determined, he knew that further persuasion would be useless, so he could only make the necessary preparations according to Xiao Qiao's instructions. At the same time, he was determined that if the prayer failed and the magistrate turned against him, he would protect the two ladies at all costs and force them to break through and board the ship.

Sure enough, after the news of the public prayer for peace spread, people from all around came to watch the spectacle...

These days, a Nuo opera is like celebrating the New Year. It's so unique and lively, how could ordinary people not be interested?

Magistrate Chen had a simple incense table set up on a slightly elevated mound by the harbor and ordered his yamen runners and soldiers to maintain order in the surrounding area. However, as more and more fishermen from the vicinity came to watch the ceremony, the mound was surrounded by layers of curious people.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xiao Qiao, still dressed in her crimson dance gown and wearing a veil, slowly ascended the earthen platform. The sea breeze ruffled her dress and long hair, making her appear like a fairy about to ride the wind away.

The crowd below the stage had never seen anything like this before, and they immediately became restless...

Some impatient people had already whispered something to each other...

Xiao Qiao seemed oblivious to the stares around her.

She faced the sea, closed her eyes for a moment, as if communicating with something beyond the ordinary.

Then she opened her eyes and, just like last time in the storm, began to dance.

There were no sounds of bells or stringed instruments, but the sobbing of the sea and the sound of the wind provided accompaniment.

Perhaps it was the feeling of being tossed about at sea that day that made Xiao Qiao's dance less graceful than usual, but more devout, like a sacrifice!
Rather than saying she was praying to the sea god through dance, it would be more accurate to say that she was commemorating Zhou Yu in this way and trying to communicate with his spirit!
She whispered a prayer, her voice lost in the wind, unheard by anyone, but her focused expression and dancing figure inexplicably drew everyone's attention!
Time passed little by little, and before we knew it, the sea breeze seemed to have really weakened!
The waves, which had been churning, calmed down, and the sea became gentle again, as if rising and falling in sync with Xiao Qiao's dance. Even the clouds in the sky seemed to slow their drifting, reluctant to leave.

The warm sunlight shone down, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

"By Poseidon! The wind has truly stopped!"

"Look, look! The sea is level! The sea is level!"

"It really is the priestess! It really is the priestess manifesting her power!"

These weren't shills arranged by Rugi, but rather spontaneous exclamations from the general public who had come to join the fun!

Many of them are fishermen from the coast, and the fear and helplessness they feel towards the stormy seas are practically ingrained in their genes.

For these people who make their living from the sea, there is no more tangible miracle than witnessing their prayers for calm seas come true!
More and more people knelt down and worshipped the red figure on the earthen platform, chanting "May the Goddess protect us," "May the Sea God protect us," and so on, creating chaos.

Magistrate Chen stood below the platform, watching this unbelievable scene unfold. He glanced at the kneeling crowd around him, their faces filled with piety as they worshipped Xiao Qiao. His expression shifted repeatedly, from sunny to stormy. He still harbored doubts, believing it might just be a coincidence. However, with the crowd so fervent, if he persisted in questioning the story, he would not only lose the support of the people but could also incite public resentment!
If a large-scale conflict were to break out among the barbarian tribes and mountain tribes, officials who were killed on the spot would simply be killed!

This is not unprecedented!
Left with no other choice, Magistrate Chen, assessing the situation, suppressed his wicked schemes and adopted a respectful expression. He stepped forward and bowed deeply to Xiao Qiao, who had just descended the earthen platform. "This humble official has offended Your Majesty's divine presence; I beg your forgiveness! Your Majesty's divine powers are vast, blessing the boatmen of Dong'an. On behalf of all the people of the county, this humble official thanks Your Majesty for your benevolence!"

He immediately ordered that prepared supplies such as rice, dried meat, water, and cloth be presented, along with a small amount of money and silk, as an apology and offering. He personally sent people to deliver these to Luji and his men's ship, showing extreme courtesy.

A crisis was resolved in such an unexpected way.

Those crew members who already had unwavering faith in Xiao Qiao now looked at her as if she were a deity incarnate.

The Qiao sisters and their entourage not only received much-needed supplies, but their ships also underwent rapid repairs with the tacit approval of the government.

Before setting off again, after much deliberation, Lu Ji suggested, "Madam, after this incident, a direct eastward crossing might attract more attention. It would be better to head north first, avoiding the spies of the Dong'an County magistrate, and then head south to reach Yizhou. Yizhou is vast and sparsely populated, with dense forests and frequent trade, making it easy to hide and resupply. We can rest along the coast of Yizhou, then head north along its east coast, using the islands north of Danzhou and Yizhou as our route. Although this will take longer, it is safer and more reliable, and we can resupply along the way. It is much safer than directly crossing the sea to Japan."

I don't know when it started, but now Rugi has gotten into the habit of reporting to the two Qiaos before taking any action, instead of making decisions on his own...

Xiao Qiao nodded in agreement.

Upon learning that the Qiao sisters and their entourage were about to depart, Magistrate Chen of Dong'an County personally went to the dock to see off the witch. After watching the large ship, which had been repaired and set sail again, disappear into the sea, he returned to the county office, pondered for a moment, took out a wooden tablet, and began to write a report to Sun Quan.

In the text, he mentioned that a servant who claimed to be from the Lu family of Wu County escorted two sorceresses who "could communicate with the sea god and whose prayers for wind would be answered" through the county. After a short stop to resupply, they continued their voyage.

In his writing, Magistrate Chen specifically emphasized the sorceress's miraculous abilities and the people's reverence for her, and also pointed out the clue of the Lu family, but he glossed over the sorceress's true identity...

In this way, it can be considered that the responsibility of reporting all due cases has been fulfilled.

As for other ideas, they can only be put aside for now.

Magistrate Chen had a vague feeling that whether it was a real witch or a fake goddess, this matter was probably not so simple...

……

……

Yokooka Museum, East Japan, 2023.

Professor Tang returned to the museum and found another piece of fabric in another exhibition hall.

This piece of fabric looks black, but Professor Tang knows it was originally indigo, only that it has evolved into its current form over time.

This tattered piece of fabric lies quietly in the "Religion and Shrine Maidens of the Himiko Period" exhibition area, stretched out and sleeping under the soft light...

The label in front of the exhibit reads, "Fragments of clothing unearthed from the tomb of the Shrine Maiden Yada. Presumed to be royal items, related to Himiko."

Professor Tang opened his eyes wide and tried hard to make out the tattered fabric.

Having learned from his previous experience, Professor Tang did not take out his phone to take pictures even though he couldn't see clearly.

This fabric...

It's definitely not from Japan!
During the Yayoi period, Japanese textiles were mostly made of coarse hemp or primitive kudzu cloth, but this fragment, even after a thousand years, still shows its fine warp and weft!

This texture must be top-quality silk or brocade produced in China!
Although Sichuan brocade was the most famous product during the Three Kingdoms period, after the Sun family established their rule over the Jiangdong region, they avoided much of the war in the Central Plains by relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River and absorbed many artisans who fled south. At the same time, the Sun Wu regime vigorously promoted sericulture, so textile production in Jiangdong also developed during this period, and the scale of state-run textile handicraft industry expanded rapidly.

During the Eastern Wu period, the textile industry in Jiangdong began to have strict standards and high requirements for silkworm rearing techniques such as temperature, mulberry leaves, silkworm beds, and silkworm rearing, which naturally led to the production of a large number of high-quality textiles.

This is recorded in detail in the "Ode to the Silkworm," such as the standard for the density of the silkworm rearing seats so that the silkworms can "lie and stretch freely, moving and stopping at will," and the selection criteria for the silkworm rearing room so that it is "located in the east of the courtyard, receiving the sunlight from the east and looking towards the remaining sun from the west." These are all valuable experiences accumulated by the working people of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period in their long-term textile production.

As the textile industry provided high-quality finished products, it also spurred the improvement of subsequent techniques such as decoration, weaving, and dyeing...

It is said that Lady Zhao, a concubine of Sun Quan, was a master weaver who could weave dragon and phoenix brocade and brocade depicting the Five Sacred Mountains and the Kingdoms.

Professor Tang noticed another difference: the pattern on the tattered fabric…

Although somewhat blurry, the lines of its pattern are flowing and graceful, typical of the decorations popular among nobles in the Central Plains and Jiangdong during the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, quite different from the traditional rope patterns and flowing water patterns of the Japanese.

These garments and decorations are completely consistent with the clothing characteristics of noblewomen in the Central Plains, and are entirely different from the items used by Japanese women in the same period!
A large earthenware bowl, fragments of fabric...

Two independent exhibits, in two different exhibition areas, are like two puzzle pieces from the same riddle, radiating a faint light pointing to the same source!
Without further hesitation, Tang Yan found the museum's office area and, after being informed, met Matsumoto Seiichi, the assistant curator, who was dressed in a suit and had a meticulous demeanor.

Professor Tang explained his purpose in Japanese, using the most precise language possible, stating that he was very interested in the two artifacts and hoped to access the original excavation records and on-site photographs of the artifacts…

After listening, Matsumoto's assistant, his gaze behind his glasses calm and unwavering, gave a slight bow, his tone polite yet distant. "Professor Tang, thank you for your interest in our exhibits. The phenomenon you pointed out is very interesting. However, the excavation reports of the Yoshino-ri site and the Yada Shrine Maiden's tomb involve collaborative work from multiple academic institutions within my country. Some data is still in the process of being compiled and researched. According to regulations, detailed original records are not yet available to overseas scholars. This involves the confidentiality of the academic process; your understanding is appreciated. Smith Marseille."

"I don't need to see the original; a photocopy will do," Professor Tang said, backing down. "And regarding that fabric fragment, could you provide more specific information about its location and the type of tomb from which it was unearthed? Even a stratigraphic diagram would be helpful!"

Professor Tang tried to find a breakthrough.

Assistant Matsumoto hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering, but finally bowed and said, "Smith Marseille. This is indeed an academic matter in our country, and I am not authorized to give you any answer. Please understand. Smith Marseille."

Professor Tang was not too surprised to be politely turned away.

That's just how the Japanese are...

Professor Tang returned to the museum's public reading area and immersed himself in the thick Japanese academic journals and conference proceedings.

He was surrounded by the smell of dust and the rustling of turning pages.

After several more hours of searching, Professor Tang finally found a simple statement in a paper published ten years ago on "A Re-examination of Goods Used in Foreign Exchanges during the Yayoi Period"...

"...In addition to the known fabric fragments, early investigation reports mentioned the discovery of a 'suspected metal hair ornament' at the Yada Shrine Maiden's tomb. Its shape was not of the local style; however, due to severe corrosion and a lack of clearly related artifacts for comparison, further research is currently impossible..."

"What looks like a metal hair accessory? And the design isn't local?" Professor Tang murmured repeatedly.

Tang Yan closed the journals, shut her eyes, and seemed to see various reports, a large earthenware bowl, fragments of fabric, and the unnoticed metal hair ornament jumping and spinning before her eyes...

These chaotic scenes gradually outlined a vague yet alluring silhouette.

The vague records in the literature actually serve as a kind of reverse confirmation!

There is an unexplained clue here, a clue to deep contact with continental civilization!
It may have been overlooked, or it may have been intentionally or unintentionally shelved...

The clues to the Fukuoka Museum have reached their limit.

If there are more answers, we must look for the records unearthed at that time...

Local chronicles?
Professor Tang's eyes lit up, and he quickly looked up transportation options to Miyazaki Prefecture. But the next moment, his expression darkened. He needed to resolve the immediate problem before he could leave Fukuoka...

The twilight outside the window was slowly descending, bathing the museum's outline in a deep blue hue.

Professor Tang slowly walked out of the museum. No matter what, he was determined to find the answers hidden in the mists of history...