Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3945 The Story of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao: A Twist of Fate
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the Yamatai Kingdom.

As the Qiao sisters and their group delved deeper into the interior of East Japan and learned more, they truly realized that this so-called Yamatai Kingdom was not a kingdom at all...

Simply put, it's similar to the SE Youthful and Vibrant Enjoyment Edition of the Zhou Dynasty in China.

However, there are also obvious differences.

This is all thanks to King Zhou.

Because in the early days of Chinese civilization, the distinction between divine and royal authority was blurred. However, King Zhou was young and impetuous at the time. He thought it was one thing to consult the gods before going to war, but now he was furious that he even had to ask the gods for permission to build a squat toilet in the palace...

If King Zhou were older, he might have said "let it go, let it go," but King Zhou was young then, so how could such a trivial matter be settled so easily?

Thus, a conflict arose between King Zhou and the sorcerer who represented the gods.

Later, the Duke of Zhou outwardly reached an agreement with the Shang shamans to overthrow King Zhou. After ascending the throne, the Duke of Zhou betrayed the shamans, and the theocratic system of China declined and could never regain its former prominence.

The Yamatai Kingdom was different.

It has been a theocracy from the very beginning and has never left the table.

The birth of kingdoms often stems from the development of agriculture. The existence of surplus value leads to the right to distribute that surplus value, which in turn gives rise to public power and its institutions.

But that's where the problem lies.

While the land of eastern Japan cannot be described as extremely barren, it lacks extensive arable plains, consisting of eight parts mountains, one part water, and one part farmland. Similar to the mountainous and hilly regions of ancient Greece, ancient agriculture naturally reached a bottleneck after a certain stage of development. Lacking a counterpart like ancient Greece, which faced annual floods yet still supported its development, its level of civilization naturally lagged behind.

This bottleneck also brought about corresponding "war" and "peace".

Although the scarcity of land and the increase in population led to constant wars between the various tribes of East Japan to compete for limited land, the population loss after each war quickly allowed East Japan as a whole to readjust to the limited land until the population reached a critical point again.

During this process, the shamans who held sacrificial ceremonies in the Dongwa tribe gradually survived one war after another and eventually became the most important core figures in the tribe.

This is the historical origin of the theocratic rule of the Yamatai Kingdom.

Under the respectful guidance of the Yamatai envoys and the awe-inspiring gazes of the Japanese tribes along the way, the Qiao brothers and their entourage left the coast and headed inland.

The road is rugged, winding through dense primeval forests and rolling hills. The villages are more densely packed than those along the coast, but equally impoverished.

About ten days later, the terrain ahead gradually rose, and a mountain range with a soft outline and a huge size came into view.

This is Mount Miwa, the legendary sacred mountain and ruling center of the Yamatai Kingdom.

At the foot of the mountain, on a relatively open flat area, there was a settlement that was much larger than the ones seen along the way.

The core area is enclosed by a wall built of large logs and mud, within which are relatively regular stilt houses. The tallest one is located in the center, with a thick thatched roof and wooden pillars carved with rough sun and wave patterns in front of it.

This is the "Royal Palace" of Yamatai, which is also the highest place of worship.

For the natives of East Japan, such a cluster of buildings was already a miracle of the country, but for the group of two Qiaos, it was almost like arriving at a mountain stronghold. They were neither surprised nor amazed, and even felt a little disdain.

This attitude, revealed unintentionally in their words and actions, made the indigenous people of the Yamatai Kingdom even more respectful towards the group of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

The two Qiao sisters looked around at this so-called royal capital.

This is the core of the alliance formed by the Dongwa Sanwa tribe after years of fighting, uniting many surrounding small tribes, and the capital of the Yamatai Kingdom.

Compared to the cities and towns of Jiangdong, this place appears primitive and rugged.

Although the royal city tries its best to display its majesty, it is clear that it cannot achieve this goal by using the grandeur of the buildings themselves, and can only rely on building the royal palace on high ground to highlight its nobility.

The air was filled with the smells of firewood, damp earth, pickled fish, and some kind of sacrificial burning.

When the group of two Qiaos entered this area under the strict protection of Luji and others, they could still feel the difference from the scattered tribes along the coast.

Here, there is a simple power order.

Many Japanese peeked out from their low-lying houses, only to retreat again at the shouts of some Japanese warriors wielding clubs.

Soon, the Qiao sisters and their party were led to the largest building on the mountainside.

A number of people had already gathered in the open space in front of the gate. Judging from the feathers, bone ornaments and relatively neat hemp clothing they wore, they should be leaders or important figures from various tribes.

All eyes were focused on the slowly approaching "Sea Goddess," while the armor worn by Rugi and the weapons in their hands made the greed in their eyes clear and restrained.

The Japanese samurai pushed open the gate, and an old woman stepped out. She held a wooden cane with a round lens at the top, wore a heavy robe intricately woven from various bird feathers and dyed hemp thread, and a tall crown adorned with jade, gold, silver, and colorful shells. Her face was covered with deep wrinkles, her skin was dark, and a deep and sharp light seemed to flash in her eyes.

This is the supreme ruler of the contemporary Yamatai Kingdom, the Great Shaman King, who is revered as "Himiko".

Himiko is not a personal name, but a divine title passed down through generations. Its meaning is similar to "Daughter of the Sun" or "Child of the Sun".

The Qiao sisters and others quickly understood the meaning of "Himiko" and addressed the old woman as such, which caused the leaders of the surrounding East Japanese tribes to chatter incoherently.

Because of the language barrier, communication relied solely on simple gestures and guesswork.

The others, including Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, could also sense that Himiko was welcoming the "Sea Goddess" with a grand ceremony, and there was no obvious malice.

Perhaps to express her gratitude to Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, and her joy at the "divine object" she brought, Himiko personally invited Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao to the Yamatai Palace and ordered a bonfire banquet to be held.

The palace is built at a low ceiling, and its structure is somewhat similar to the stilted houses of the Southern Yue Kingdom due to the need for insect control and moisture prevention.

But this is already excellent; at least there's a door, a window, and cushions, instead of something like a hole dug in the ground like on the coast of eastern Japan...

The two sides stammered, but the communication slowly began.

……

Han Dynasty bronze mirrors
……

Within the Hyuga Museum, it seems that, amidst the obscurity and chaos, a corner of the mysterious veil is slowly being lifted.

Professor Tang made some discoveries, but they were not clear enough.

He needs to get closer, needs a professional light source, and may even need the aid of a microscope for observation!
It is impossible to make any responsible judgment based solely on visual inspection through glass or on pictures taken with a mobile phone!

But the similarity and certain possibility revealed in that fleeting glance ignited his passion and became the driving force for him to continue searching for answers.

Professor Tang suppressed his excitement, found the museum's service desk, and politely requested to see the curator, claiming he had important academic questions to ask. After waiting a moment, he was guided by staff to the museum's internal office area.

However, he did not meet the curator.

Professor Tang was greeted by a middle-aged man in his fifties who was somewhat bald but still kept his hair neatly combed.

The middle-aged man, with his usual smile revealing a few teeth, proactively handed Professor Tang his business card.

Taoichi Morita, assistant director of the museum.

But when Morita realized that Professor Tang wasn't a professor at the University of Tokyo in Japan, but a professor from China, the smile on his face vanished...

"Director Morita, I am honored to visit you today because of your collection's 'Phoenix Hairpin of a Shrine Maiden'..." Professor Tang spoke cautiously yet earnestly. "In my research, I have discovered that certain artistic features of this hairpin bear a striking resemblance to the metalwork and decorative styles of the Han Dynasty in China, particularly in the Jiangdong region from the late Eastern Han to the Three Kingdoms period, which is well-known in my field of expertise... The phoenix shape and decoration on the hairpin head, in particular, further illustrate this point... This may provide a completely new and very important perspective for the study of the origins of this precious artifact..."

Professor Tang paused, then said with great enthusiasm, "Therefore, I humbly request your permission to observe this hairpin more closely and in greater detail… This is purely for academic research purposes, hoping to promote our understanding of cultural exchange in ancient East Asia."

Professor Tang believed that his explanation was reasonable and highlighted its academic nature and shared research value.

However, after hearing Professor Tang's words, Assistant Curator Morita shook his head without hesitation, "Smithmassage!"

"Professor Tang," Morita's voice remained politely steady, but the tone had noticeably cooled, "Thank you for your interest in our collection… However, regarding the shrine maiden hairpin, our scholars have already conducted quite in-depth and systematic analyses. The conclusions about its age and cultural attributes were reached through rigorous academic procedures… As for the Jiangdong characteristics you mentioned, although it is a very… novel perspective… however, the observation of cultural relics, especially the close examination of important cultural properties, requires very strict approval procedures and protection conditions. It cannot be done casually, Smymasai! Please understand!"

Morita refused outright, and with an unquestionable official tone.

Professor Tang, undeterred, continued his persuasion, "Director Morita, I understand the regulations for cultural relic protection. As an archaeology professional myself, I know all cultural relics are extremely precious, and I will adhere to all operational procedures… You see, I can conduct only non-contact optical observations, such as using a magnifying glass or portable microscope with the assistance of your museum's professionals, or you could provide more detailed multi-angle photographs of the artifacts!" Director Morita's brow furrowed completely, a clear hint of anger flashing across his face. "Professor Tang, please understand! All the artifacts from these kofun tombs are important markers of the transitional period of the Yayoi-kofun period in our country, representing the brilliant crystallization of the independent development of ancient Chinese culture! As the guardian of these artifacts, I absolutely cannot allow them to be at any risk!"

Morita Taichi stood up, his tone becoming very harsh. "Furthermore, I believe it is extremely rude of you to request important documents from our institution based solely on your personal speculation or association! I cannot agree to your request! Please understand that this is out of a sense of responsibility towards important cultural properties!"

"Mr. Curator, academic research should not be limited by nationality..." Professor Tang wanted to argue further.

"Enough!" Assistant Morita lost his patience, abruptly standing up, his voice rising, clearly indicating he was being asked to leave. "Professor Tang, I have other official business. You can keep your opinion, but there's absolutely no way you'd expect our assistance. Please don't interfere with our normal official duties!"

Immediately, Assistant Morita pressed the intercom button and quickly spoke a few words in Japanese.

A moment later, two museum guards appeared at the office door, looking at Professor Tang with serious expressions.

"Please, Professor Tang. The guards will escort you out."

Director Morita pointed to the door expressionlessly, without glancing at Professor Tang again.

Accompanied by security guards, Professor Tang was not only forced to leave the museum's office area, but was also politely asked to leave the main building area of ​​the museum.

Standing on the steps outside the museum, looking back at that modern yet cold building, Professor Tang once again felt helpless.

The object was within reach, and the clues were faintly visible, yet they were kept out by an invisible and solid barrier.

People who are too focused on academic studies are not necessarily completely ignorant of human relationships; it's just that they concentrate their attention on specific academic issues and neglect other matters.

But then again, if the world were to lose those who dedicate their energy and even their lives to academia, and instead be filled with people who focus on interpersonal relationships and can always put on airs and smooth things over, what great things could be accomplished?
……

Schematic diagram of bronze mirror transmission
……

The Western Han and the Eastern Han, although both were Han dynasties, were completely different.

The teacher is too old, and the students are too young.

Historical problems always seem to cycle and repeat themselves.

Just like Yamatai is in the present day.

Himiko was too old for her current position, and her successor was too young.

Although sorcerers, who represent the gods, do not usually need to go to the battlefield, they are not entirely exempt from the blades and daggers in the darkness.

In the communication with Himiko, Da Qiao was mainly responsible for maintaining a calm demeanor, while Xiao Qiao was responsible for the specific negotiations.

As the two sides communicated further, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao discovered that the problems of the Yamatai Kingdom were not limited to the ruler Himiko alone, but were multifaceted...

In the Yamatai Kingdom, bureaucrats had evolved to handle certain national affairs. There were officials in charge of laws, officials in charge of markets, and officials in charge of diplomacy. In addition to bureaucrats, Himiko also had an army to maintain her authority, as well as laws that were not written down and were never publicized, existing only in the mouths and minds of officials.

The Yamatai Kingdom divided the indigenous people of East Japan into four classes: "Adults", "Lower-class", "Born", and "Slaves".

"Adults" naturally refers to nobles, slave owners, etc.

"Lower-level households" refers to ordinary citizens who are required to pay taxes to the state.

The hierarchy between "adults" and "lower-class citizens" was extremely strict. For example, if a lower-class citizen encountered an adult on the road, they not only had to give way but also had to hide in the bushes. When a lower-class citizen spoke to an adult, they had to be extremely respectful and had to squat or kneel down.

As for the "raw people," they were mainly prisoners of war or criminals, who had no personal freedom and could be freely transferred between households by adults. The even lower-class "slaves" had no human rights at all; they were merely objects and were often used as funerary sacrifices for "adults."

In short, the Yamatai Kingdom was a country that existed under a slave system and was only on the verge of feudalism.

Such a national system has its own inevitable reasons for its evolution, but it also brings inherent limitations.

The bottom overcomes the top.

Moreover, it is an extremely brutal and bloody mode.

In China, there are also instances of subordinates overthrowing their superiors, but it is a relatively slow process. However, in the Yamatai Kingdom, bullying of subordinates by superiors occurs almost daily, and news of changes in tribal chiefs comes from time to time...

Every instance of a subordinate overthrowing a superior means a bloodbath of the original ruling faction.

Himiko is now old.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have made a special trip to welcome the two Qiao sisters.

After a few days of contact between the two parties, something that wasn't exactly unexpected happened, but rather occurred naturally.

Himiko saw the bronze mirror that Xiao Qiao always carried with her.

That was the mythical beast bronze mirror given to me by Zhou Yu.

The bronze mirror given by Zhou Yu was naturally different from other ordinary bronze mirrors. Not only were the patterns elaborate, but it also had a special effect.

When strong sunlight shines on a bronze mirror, it can reflect and reveal the patterns on its back!

Himiko was immediately shocked when she saw it. She repeatedly questioned Xiao Qiao, uttering rapid syllables, as if she were asking about the origin of the bronze mirror or why the bronze mirror produced a transmission effect.

In the sunlight, the mythical beast patterns on the back of the bronze mirror seemed to move freely in the air...

Looking in the mirror, Xiao Qiao's eyes revealed deep tenderness and sorrow. She replied softly in Wu dialect, "This is... specially made for Ah Lang..."

"Ah...Ama? Amatlas...Amatlas?" Himiko's eyes widened suddenly, her emaciated body trembling violently with excitement. She stared intently at Joestar, then at the bronze mirror that was clearly no ordinary object, and murmured the same words repeatedly before staring intently at Joestar once more, "Ano...Amatlas?"

This misunderstanding stemmed from a mismatch in language, yet it perfectly aligned with Himiko's current political needs: to consolidate her power and to leverage even greater divine authority to intimidate the various tribes!
This mysterious mirror, which shines with the light and reflects the patterns on its back, is actually an object of 'Amaterasu'?!

And this red-clad witch from Middle-earth naturally became the messenger of 'Amadeus,' and even...

A divine incarnation in some form!
The next moment, Himiko made a move that surprised everyone. She suddenly raised the wooden staff in her hand, and with all her might, in an old but unusually loud voice, she bowed to the two Qiao sisters, and announced it to the surrounding attendants and other accompanying leaders of the Eastern Wa!
"God's support!" God cares for you! The goddess of the sun, the goddess of the sun The mirror is holding the mirror, the sea is crossing the sea, and the country of Yamatai is falling and the standing is standing!これぞ我が国にこの上なき光栄!神はその野子らをお见社てにはならなかったのであります! 』

The announcement was as loud as a thunderclap.

All the Japanese leaders were stunned for a moment, then their eyes turned to the bronze mirror and Xiao Qiao. The awe in their eyes instantly rose to the peak, even surpassing their previous respect for the "Sea God Priestess"!

The sun god is the highest deity in East Japan, and the significance of his divine artifacts and messengers far surpasses that of ordinary gods!
It is unclear who was the first to fall to the ground and perform the most solemn prostration to Xiao Qiao and the bronze mirror in her hand.

Immediately afterward, like dominoes falling, all the Yamatai chieftains inside the hall, as well as the guards and people outside, knelt down in a dark mass under Himiko's leadership, their foreheads touching the ground, uttering devout and excited sobs and prayers. The entire area around Mount Miwa seemed to be worshipping the "Mirror of the Sun God" and its wielder!
Xiao Qiao was startled by this sudden change and looked at her older sister Da Qiao in astonishment.

Da Qiao was also somewhat taken aback, but quickly recovered and whispered to Xiao Qiao, "It seems... they consider this mirror... something extraordinary?"

Xiao Qiao looked at the bronze mirror given to her by Zhou Yu, and then at the Dongwo people who were facing the mirror and kneeling to pay their respects to her. Once again, she felt a surge of deep gratitude for Zhou Yu.

Perhaps this is everything that Ah Lang's spirit in heaven has arranged?
Xiao Qiao recalled Zhou Yu's dying wish, the hardships of the voyage, the precarious state of their position, and the deep worry hidden in her sister's eyes. She took a deep breath, solemnly raised the bronze mirror, straightened her back, and her veil fluttered slightly in the breeze. She spoke neither, neither admitting nor denying, but with a calm and slightly mysterious air, she raised her head slightly and accepted the fervent reverence that permeated the entire capital of Yamatai.

Sunlight shines on the surface of the bronze mirror, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of the Central Plains artisans in a foreign land.

That finely polished mirror surface, revealing the intricate patterns on the back, along with the profound inscriptions, undoubtedly served as clear evidence of the "mirror's divine intervention."

Himiko looked at the two Qiao sisters, and then at the other East Japanese people who were gradually entering a state of frenzy under her leadership, and slightly twitched the corners of her mouth.

The appearance of this "divine messenger" will be her strongest bargaining chip to stabilize her crumbling authority and reunite the various departments.

She didn't care whether Xiao Qiao was a true messenger of the gods, nor did she believe in the so-called sea god or sun god. However, she couldn't relinquish her power, nor was she willing to face the tragic end of a subordinate overthrowing her superior. Therefore, the arrival of the Xiao Qiao group from outside became her best tool to break the deadlock.

Because of the Zhou Lang bronze mirror in Xiao Qiao's hand, the Qiao sisters and others were unexpectedly elevated to a divine status in this unfamiliar land, a position they never imagined.

Whether the future holds fortune or misfortune, whether this misunderstanding will allow us to create a new world or ultimately be devoured by it.

No one knows at this moment.

But the course of history may have been subtly altered by this misheard "Ah Lang"...