Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3946 The Qiao Sisters: Cooperation with Calculated Strategies
Time slowly passed in the settlement at the foot of Sanwa Mountain.

The language barrier was just a minor initial problem. As the fervent adoration subsided, the practical difficulties and political considerations gradually surfaced.

One day, deep within Himiko's palace, which also served as a temple, with only a few trusted confidants present, the old Himiko dismissed her attendants and frankly told the elder and younger sisters the truth that Yamatai, though seemingly prosperous, was actually fraught with danger.

"Your Excellency... Divine Messenger." The old Himiko chose a compromise title. "Although Yamatai commands the various tribes, the Kingdom of Dog Slave is fierce and frequently crosses the sea to harass and plunder... And the Kingdom of Tsushima, relying on the natural defenses of the strait, is sometimes submissive and sometimes rebellious... And in the neighboring regions... the tribal chiefs appear to be submissive, but in reality, each harbors their own ambitions, and taxes and military service are repeatedly evaded... This old woman... is old and frail, and her granddaughter is young; it is difficult to control them... If this continues, I fear there will be a collapse."

The female interpreter carefully relayed Himiko's words, sweat beading on her forehead. This was clearly something she shouldn't hear, yet she had no choice but to; she even foresaw her own fate one day…

Himiko paused, waiting for the interpreter to finish relaying her words, then fixed her cloudy but still sharp eyes on the two Qiao sisters. "I observe that you two divine messengers possess not only divine abilities, but also… the wisdom and spirit of the Central Plains… Therefore, I humbly request that you temporarily assume the administration of Yamatai, in the name of divine messengers, to assist my young grandson in overcoming this difficult time? Whatever you two desire, I will grant! I wonder if you two…"

Himiko didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already clear.

She hoped to use the outsider status of the two Qiao sisters, along with their mysterious aura, to help her consolidate her rule and weather the dangerous period of power transition.

Da Qiao had been listening quietly, and now slowly spoke, "Let's set aside the matter of regency for now... I believe that to unite the people's hearts, the first priority is to establish rules and regulations. There's a saying in the Central Plains: 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette.' To establish proper etiquette and laws, we must promote production to reassure the people."

Da Qiao then proposed a preliminary idea: "Perhaps we could refer to the methods of the Central Plains and establish simple rituals and laws for Yamatai. For example, we could establish ceremonies for audiences, sacrifices, and meetings, as well as rules for the speech and conduct of the tribal leaders, to restrain them and maintain a proper hierarchy. We could also establish basic laws, clearly defining rewards and punishments, stopping private fights, and ensuring equal labor service. At the same time, we could teach the people of Yamatai weaving and farming techniques. If we can produce more cloth and grain, the people will be wealthy, the country will be peaceful, and the disloyalty of the tribal leaders will naturally decrease."

In life, unless one lives alone, social interaction should always be the top priority.

Da Qiao's words were meant to demonstrate her important value to Yamatai.

Regardless of whether Himiko's words were a test, Da Qiao's response was to remain invincible.

Moreover, Da Qiao's suggestions were very pertinent, taking a two-pronged approach from both institutional and technological perspectives. This approach aimed to establish order from the superstructure and improve people's livelihoods from the economic base, which is a typical and upright approach to governance in the Central Plains.

Upon hearing this, Himiko repeatedly praised and thanked her.

Xiao Qiao, on the other hand, stated their intention to leave more directly to alleviate Himiko's suspicions that they might be usurping her territory for a long time: "We crossed the sea to the east, and although it is by destiny, we also yearn for our homeland... When the time is right, we may need the help of Yamatai to return to the Central Plains. At that time, we hope... Himiko will provide her support."

Xiao Qiao didn't specify the timing or what kind of support she needed, but she at least made her stance clear.

Upon hearing this, Himiko's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and almost without hesitation, she immediately agreed: "I deeply admire the divine messenger's concern for his homeland! If Yamatai can find temporary peace with the divine messenger's assistance, then in the future, when the divine messenger has any requests, everyone in Yamatai will repay him with all their might!"

For Himiko, the fact that Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao had a clear intention to leave actually made her feel more at ease using their power.

As for future support, that's a matter for the future; maintaining stability in the present is the key.

Thus, a preliminary cooperation framework was reached, with both parties getting what they needed, and they immediately entered a honeymoon period.

As for their expectations for the future, Qiao and Luigi were not optimistic when they discussed it privately.

Da Qiao's brows furrowed with worry. "That Himiko is no easy opponent. In the Wa tribes, strength is revered, and loyalty and righteousness are rare. She's currently using our strength to suppress those within and without. Once she deems her granddaughter's position secure, or once we've lost our usefulness..."

Da Qiao shook her head and sighed, "The saying 'When the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked' is not unique to the Central Plains."

Xiao Qiao nodded, a coldness that seemed incongruous with her beautiful face. "Sister is absolutely right. All these schemes are neither my wish nor my forte. I recall back in Wancheng, or...when I was by his side, though there were disturbances, I never had to be so cautious, walking on thin ice."

A distant longing flashed in Xiao Qiao's eyes. 'Those days when we didn't have to worry about tomorrow's life or death, only about makeup, clothes, and the music and dance steps—thinking back now, it feels like a lifetime ago… Those were the happiest times…'

Xiao Qiao sighed, "Now that we've embarked on this path, for Zhou Yu's last wish, and for the livelihood of these hundreds of followers, even if we don't want to, we must continue!"

Lu Ji bowed deeply, saying, "The First Madam bestows great favors, the Second Madam establishes divine authority, and I am here to gather the civilian militia and infiltrate the soldiers... to guard against unforeseen circumstances!"

The three have discussed and reached a preliminary consensus.

Taking advantage of the "regency" opportunity given by Himiko, he quickly established himself in Yamatai, implemented beneficial measures to accumulate strength and prestige, but at the same time remained vigilant, developed his own power, and never placed all his hopes on Himiko's so-called "integrity".

However, in the early stages, the cooperation between Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, and Himiko was relatively smooth.

As the two Qiao sisters began to teach farming and weaving techniques to the eastern Wa (Japan), Himiko also began to reveal the core secrets of the Yamatai rule to the younger Qiao sister...

The Way of Ghosts and Gods!

Of course, following the traditions of the East Japan, this thing, despite its grand name, is actually just a shamanistic ritual system that blends primitive shamanistic beliefs with nature worship.

Through specific dances with wild and hypnotic movements, coupled with eerie chanting to create an atmosphere, and supplemented by so-called ritual implements and the ingestion of certain anesthetic and hallucinogenic herbs, the aim is to communicate with deities, make supplications, exorcise evil spirits, or demonstrate divine power.

When Himiko, assisted by several senior priestesses, demonstrated a ritual dance to worship the sun god in the secret chamber, Xiao Qiao was surprised to find that the rhythm of many of the movements, as well as the language, form, use of ritual implements, and even the logic of the entire ritual's pursuit of communication between humans and gods, had many similarities with the ancient shamanistic Nuo opera that has been passed down in Jiangdong!
First of all, masks are used to express the transformation from "human" to "god" or "divine messenger".

Masks were seen as vessels or symbols of deities. The colors and patterns painted on them served two purposes: to represent the image of the gods and to eliminate human characteristics.

Secondly, in terms of function, they all aim to worship and communicate with the gods, thereby achieving the effects of driving away evil spirits and epidemics, and praying for blessings and disaster relief.

Dance is an important medium for communication between humans and gods, and an indispensable part of witchcraft rituals. In particular, certain frequencies that exceed those of ordinary people, or the twisting and bending of the body, make ordinary people more likely to believe that this is the power of the gods.

Secondly, the main purpose is to pray for food and clothing, or to pray for a good harvest, to give thanks for the harvest, or to drive away bad luck. Moreover, Xiao Qiao also discovered that in the so-called way of ghosts and gods in the East Japan, rice has become a sacred medium, playing an important role in both bestowing blessings and warding off evil.

Perhaps in the distant past, the original beliefs of the coastal areas of East Asia in China and China were of the same origin, but they developed into different variations in their respective regions.

Since they are similar, does that mean they can be integrated, interconnected, and mutually beneficial?

During a discussion with Himiko about the ways of spirits and deities, Xiao Qiao bluntly stated, "Your country's ways of spirits and deities are deeply spiritual. However, the shamanistic rituals of our Central Plains, passed down for thousands of years, are also exquisite in their dance steps, prayer methods, and grand ceremonies. Perhaps... we could try to integrate the essence of our Central Plains shamanistic rituals into your country's ways of spirits and deities? This might make divine pronouncements more evident, the rituals more awe-inspiring, and gain the faith of all people and the loyalty of all tribes."

Himiko immediately agreed. She was just wondering how to further strengthen her legitimacy and authority, and Xiao Qiao's suggestion was exactly what she wanted!

By integrating the rituals of the Central Plains, not only can the expressiveness and mystery of the way of ghosts and gods be enhanced, but the identities of the two Qiao sisters as "divine messengers" can also be more deeply engraved into the theocratic system of Yamatai, making them part of her tools of rule.

At the foot of Sanlun Mountain, the cooperation between the two parties began to proceed in an orderly manner.

Da Qiao began to guide some women in farming and weaving, while Xiao Qiao, relying on her memory and understanding, gradually introduced the more graceful movements and more narrative segments of the Jiangdong witch dance into the rituals of the spirit path.

The two women from Jiangdong, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, who were cast adversaries by fate and wandered overseas, began to carve their own marks on this wild land, as well as the deep imprints of the civilization of their distant homeland, in ways they never imagined.

……

……

A café outside the Hinata Museum.

The industrial-style black iron beams and columns collide and blend together with the warm wood parquet flooring underfoot.

Hanging green plants and warm yellow string lights dangle from the exposed ceiling, seemingly to soften the cold and solid metal lines.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows frame an entire expanse of azure sea, presenting a unique sense of contradiction in the view: it aims to encompass as much of the open seascape as possible, yet it must also exert tremendous restraint within the limited framework.

The coffee tables and chairs inside appear to be arranged casually and sparsely, but in reality, moving a chair even slightly would obstruct the aisle or bump into the chair next to it. The staggered placement of every string of lights and greenery carefully conceals the cramped and awkward space.

Inside the café, people were engrossed in their cups and phone screens, maintaining a polite distance, yet they all turned their heads toward the same sea, as if quietly placing their yearning for freedom at the edge of their vision.

Professor Tang was almost humiliated when he was kicked out of the museum. He was still somewhat upset. He casually ordered a cup of coffee, took a sip, and put it down. He stared blankly at the sea, trying to clear his mind.

Physical evidence was right there but untouchable; academic requests were rudely rejected; and they were even kicked out by security guards...

All of this, like the coffee shop in front of us, seems to be filled with a strange sense of contradiction.

"お客様,コーヒーが热めてしまいますわよ..."

I don't know how much time had passed, but suddenly a soft female voice sounded from the side.

Professor Tang was a beat slow to react before realizing that someone was speaking to him. He looked up and saw a professional woman in her early thirties, wearing a dark blue uniform skirt suit, thin-rimmed glasses, with delicate features and light makeup that couldn't hide her fatigue, bowing slightly to him.

"Oh, thank you for reminding me." Professor Tang replied in Japanese, forcing a smile, and rested his arms on the armrests, sitting up a little straighter.

Professor Tang initially mistook the woman for a café server, but quickly realized his mistake, as the professional woman promptly identified herself: "I am... an employee of the Hyuga Museum... I'm sorry, I just saw you, sir..."

"Hyuga Museum?" Professor Tang was taken aback.

"Yes... May I sit down?" the professional woman asked, placing her hands lightly on her lower abdomen and bending slightly forward.

"Ah, please, no need to be so polite..." Professor Tang remembered that they had indeed met once at the Hyuga Museum, but he was still a little confused and didn't know why the other party had come looking for him.

Perhaps the other person didn't know how to start the conversation either, because after the coffee shop waiter brought over a cup of coffee, they said, "Sir, your accent... is very distinctive, but your Japanese is excellent; you can hardly tell you're a foreigner."

"Really?" Professor Tang was puzzled, but out of politeness, he replied, "Actually, Japanese and Chinese have a very deep connection in linguistics... well... many ancient Japanese pronunciations and words may have originated from the ancient Wu dialect of the Jiangdong region of China, so when I learn it... I might feel a sense of familiarity..."

"Jiangdong? Ancient Wu dialect?" A strange light flashed in the female employee's eyes. She leaned forward slightly and said, "I see... Do you have expertise in ancient Japanese history? Ah, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself... I'm Takenaka Tomoko, an assistant researcher at the Hyuga Museum."

Professor Tang's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded, saying, "Yes, I am a professor of archaeology, surnamed Tang. I come from China. The main reason for my visit is to have some academic questions about some of your museum's collections, especially the artifacts from the Kofun period... but unfortunately..."

Upon hearing Professor Tang's answer, Tomoko Takenaka's expression subtly shifted. She quickly glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then spoke in an even softer voice: "Professor Tang, you just...didn't you see the director, but only Assistant Director Morita? And...it wasn't a pleasant meeting?"

Professor Tang was startled and looked at her warily, without answering immediately.

A knowing yet bitter smile appeared on Tomoko Takenaka's face. She continued in a low voice, "I guessed it... because when my colleague reported you to Assistant Director Morita, he only said you were an archaeology professor, not that you were from China... and your accent was very standard..."

"Is there a problem with this?" Professor Tang asked, puzzled.

Tomoko Takenaka's lips twitched, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. "The problem? The problem is, in the perception of Assistant Director Morita, or rather, some people in this museum, certain uninvited archaeology professors, especially those showing intense interest in a particular artifact, are often not there for academic reasons, but rather… middlemen scouting and inquiring about prices for some important figures… Your accent led my colleague to mistakenly believe… therefore…"

"What?!" Professor Tang exclaimed in astonishment, then realized what he meant, but couldn't believe it. "You...you mean this...the museum...is actually selling its collection? This...isn't this illegal?!"

"Illegal?" Tomoko Takenaka chuckled softly, but her laughter was devoid of warmth. "Professor Tang, you can't look at this through the lens of Chinese law… In Yamato, when the buyer is a powerful figure who makes or influences the rules, the word 'illegal' often… is less important than a piece of paper… Director Morita and his associates have been operating this channel for a long time, identifying genuine artifacts as forgeries, then using reasons like questionable provenance, or directly falsifying donation records, and then using guise such as academic exchanges, restoration sponsorships, and long-term loans, they eventually end up in private collections… Who dares to investigate? Those who do investigate might have similar items displayed in their own studies."

Takenaka paused, his tone growing increasingly sharp. "Even some nouveau riche try to buy antiques, whether for their own collection or… well, those powerful figures, to avoid exposing their refined tastes, will use their resources to cover it up… Just like how many wealthy Japanese people now own Muramasa swords, and there are several on the market claiming to be genuine Muramasa, not to mention countless shadow-cast ones. But where are all those genuine pieces? Everyone knows the unspoken truth: they're buying the title, a ticket to a certain circle. Who cares if it was forged by a Japanese blacksmith hundreds of years ago?"

Professor Tang felt a chill run down his spine. He never expected that a simple academic visit would lead him to uncover such a sordid shady deal.

This explains the dramatic change in Morita's attitude before and after. It even explains why Morita rejected Professor Tang's request without hesitation.

What if Professor Tang is referring to something in a completely different way?
What if Professor Tang exposes a problem with a certain artifact?

These factors can severely impact the added value of cultural relics and the security of their transactions.

"Ms. Takenaka, why are you telling me all this?" Professor Tang calmed down and looked directly into Tomoko Takenaka's eyes as he asked. This female employee had risked everything to reveal inside information to him; it couldn't possibly be for simple casual conversation.

Tomoko Takenaka's sarcastic smile faded, her expression turning serious. "Because, like you, I want to uncover the true history behind certain artifacts, instead of letting them become commodities for trade and decorations for lies! And even more so, I hope that Morita, and everyone involved in this chain of interests, can be brought to justice!"

"Bring them to justice?" Professor Tang smiled wryly and shook his head. "Ms. Takenaka, I admire your sense of justice. But I am merely a visiting scholar from China, with neither the right nor the ability to interfere in your country's internal affairs, especially concerning... the deals involving those important figures you mentioned... You overestimate me; I don't have that kind of power."

"I understand." Tomoko Takenaka nodded, her eyes unusually firm. "That's precisely why I came to you. In Yamato, never try to stir up any trouble; every hint will be completely suppressed from the very beginning! Rest assured, I don't need your direct involvement. I only need you... in your country, with the help of the media and academia, to expose the museum's suspected abuse of power in the improper handling of important artifacts, and the potential involvement of shady financial transactions! Even if Yamato's reach is long, it can't control the Chinese media!"

"Huh?" Professor Tang was stunned.

Tomoko Takenaka whispered, "Do you know why Assistant Director Morita received you instead of Director Hyuga himself? Because this kind of thing absolutely cannot be exposed! If something goes wrong, they'll claim it was Morita's doing alone, and that the Hyuga Museum has nothing to do with it. For the sake of the museum's reputation, if such reports appear, especially if another country influences our media coverage, Morita will be pressured into temporarily leaving his post to accept investigation, or even resigning outright... And during the period between Morita's departure and the arrival of a new director, chaos will definitely ensue within the museum... Only then will someone be willing to step in... After all, fish in the ocean can't afford to have wounds..."

Professor Tang was deep in thought.

That is indeed a possible approach.

By leveraging international public opinion and academic scrutiny, pressure can be exerted to break the deadlock from the outside.

But Professor Tang still had questions in his mind: "Ms. Takenaka, why did you choose to believe me? And why did you do this? It's extremely risky for you personally."

Tomoko Takenaka remained silent for a long time, so long that Professor Tang thought she wouldn't answer. She slightly turned her head to look at the sea outside the café, her profile appearing somewhat stiff. When she turned back, a deep pain and hatred flashed in her eyes, but her tone was unusually calm, "Because of Morita... he, they insulted me..."

Tomoko Takenaka paused, seemingly considering her words, before finally choosing to be blunt: "Not the kind of workplace harassment… it's more… direct assault."

Professor Tang gasped, instinctively asking, "Then...why didn't you report it? Shouldn't your country's punishment and public opinion regarding this type of case be...I..."

Professor Tang almost let slip something, and quickly corrected himself, "...I heard from a friend that even taking a photo can be a crime...Your country's laws are quite strict regarding these kinds of things..."

Upon hearing this, Tomoko Takenaka was taken aback for a moment, and then let out a short and sharp sneer.

"Law? Public opinion? Haha..." Takenaka Tomoko's eyes were icy. "Professor Tang, you don't fully understand Yamato... In Yamato, junior high school girls receive preferential treatment... Once they reach adulthood, the best option is to immediately become housewives, while someone like me who wants to work... hehe, will have to pay a heavy price... Call the police? First, it's difficult to gather evidence; they won't leave any bodily fluid evidence... Moreover, they have power and influence, and they'll have a hundred ways to prove it was consensual, or a misunderstanding... Even if a case is filed, the lengthy litigation process will be enough to wear me down. The strange looks from my colleagues, the difficulties and exclusion at work, even other companies won't want me... This will make me a hundred times more miserable than I am now... And in the end, it's very likely that nothing will come of it, while they, at most, will only suffer reputational damage and move on to another place..."

Tomoko Takenaka's words are cold, cruel, and realistic.

Professor Tang was speechless for a moment. He recalled the junior high school girl in Yokooka who could easily ruin a foreign tourist's trip with absurd accusations, and compared her to the working woman in front of him who had suffered actual assault but had no way to appeal. The contrast and absurdity between them were chilling.

“So,” Tomoko Takenaka took a deep breath, looking at Professor Tang with a mixture of calm and madness in her eyes, “bringing him down is not only for revenge, but also to prevent more cultural relics from being desecrated. Perhaps… it can also reduce the number of people who suffer like I have… Moreover, I am in the museum and can provide some information about cultural relics that you might be interested in… even photocopies of the original excavation records and internal identification notes for several other controversial artifacts from the Kofun period… Some of this information has never been made public before…”

Tomoko Takenaka took out a pre-prepared piece of paper from her uniform pocket. It had no obvious markings and only an email address on it. She handed it to Professor Tang.

"This is my contact information. If Professor Tang is willing to try to promote related reporting in your country, please be sure to contact me. You help me create an opportunity to break the deadlock, and I will help you obtain the information you need about those cultural relics... This might be a way out for both of us."

Tomoko Takenaka stood up and bowed. "I'm very sorry to bother you... Please make a decision as soon as possible... Farewell."

After speaking, without waiting for Professor Tang's response, she gave a slight bow, reverting to the ambiguous smile of an ordinary office worker, and turned to leave with steady steps, as if the thrilling conversation had never happened...