Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"To thank Alia for saving their lives, the fishermen decided to build a temple for her, enshrine her statue, and promise to hold a grand celebration every year at this time to commemorate the patron saint of the ocean with singing, dancing and delicious food. Since then, there have been no major disasters in this sea area, and the lives of the fishermen have become more peaceful and prosperous."

"But Alia did not leave this sea. She turned into invisible wind and gentle waves, forever guarding the land and people she loved so much. Whenever night falls and the moonlight shines on the sea, people can always feel her presence in their hearts, as if she is right beside them, whispering softly, giving them comfort and strength."

When the elder spoke to this point, his voice gradually softened, and his eyes were filled with infinite admiration for the sea fairy Alia. The people around were mesmerized by his words, as if they really saw the legendary sea elf dancing in the moonlight, guarding the peace and abundance of this sea area.

The children were fascinated by the story, and the adults also listened with great interest. As the story went on, everyone's face showed a look of longing and intoxication.

Just as the elder of Zufar finished telling the ancient legend and the scene was still immersed in dream and awe, a Ming sailor stood up. His voice was loud and firm, and he began to share a heroic story of his own country.

"In our Ming Dynasty, there is a legend about an extremely brave general, Li Jing. He is not only a wise and brave military strategist, but also a patron saint in the hearts of the people." The crew member began to tell the story, his eyes flashing with infinite admiration for this historical hero.

"The story takes place in the early Tang Dynasty, when the borders were in turmoil and foreign invasions continued. Li Jing, a hero born in a military family, has been determined to defend his country since he was young. He is familiar with the art of war, proficient in martial arts, and has a sincere heart for his country and his people."

"One year, the Turkic forces in the north were ready to invade the Central Plains. The imperial court was furious and sent Li Jing to lead the troops. Facing an enemy force several times larger than his own, Li Jing was not afraid at all. He planned and won the battle thousands of miles away, taking advantage of the terrain and setting up numerous ambushes."

"On the day of the decisive battle, the sky was covered with dark clouds, lightning and thunder. Li Jing led the charge. Under his leadership, his soldiers were like tigers descending from the mountains, unstoppable. The Turkic army was frightened by Li Jing's wisdom and courage, and retreated step by step."

"Finally, after a thrilling battle, Li Jing successfully defeated the main force of the Turkic army and defended the peace of the border. His heroic deeds quickly spread across the country and became a legend passed down by word of mouth."

"However, Li Jing did not become complacent. He built water conservancy projects, encouraged farming, reduced taxes, and rectified the administration of officials... A series of reform measures made the Ming Dynasty more prosperous and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment."

"Li Jing spent his entire life fighting for the country and the people. After his death, he was posthumously named Duke of Weiguo, and his deeds were recorded in history, becoming a role model admired by later generations. Whenever the country is in danger, people always think of this brave general and his immortal achievements."

When the Ming crew spoke of this, their voices were filled with pride and emotion. The people around them were excited, as if they had witnessed the glorious moment of the historical hero with their own eyes.

As the Ming crew finished their story, silence fell all around them. The people of Zufar were still immersed in the shock of General Li Jing's heroic deeds. After a while, a young man from Zufar broke the silence, with admiration in his eyes. He asked:
"The Ming Dynasty is really full of talents. We deeply admire General Li Jing's bravery and wisdom. In our ancestral land, although there is no hero as powerful as General Li Jing, we also have many unknown but equally respectable people. For example, our old fisherman Saleh, who has been with the sea all his life and has rescued ships and fishermen in distress countless times. Does your Ming Dynasty have similar ordinary yet great stories like this?"

An old Ming sailor smiled and nodded upon hearing this, and said slowly: "Of course there are. There is no shortage of such stories in the land of Ming. Let me tell you a story about Zhao Bo, an old fisherman in our village."

"Uncle Zhao is the oldest fisherman in our village. He was also a brave sailor when he was young. He went out to sea to fish many times and experienced countless storms. But what I remember most is not his bravery when he was young, but something he did in his later years." The old sailor said this with a tone full of respect.

"One year, the village suffered an unprecedented drought. The crops were almost completely destroyed and the villagers were facing the threat of famine. Zhao Bo saw it and was worried. Instead of escaping, he decided to go out to sea again to find those legendary undiscovered fishing grounds, hoping to bring back life-saving food for the village."

"The sea waves were more ferocious than when he was young, but Zhao Bo relied on his years of experience and indomitable will to overcome the difficulties. After several days of difficult sailing, he finally found a rich school of fish. Zhao Bo did not enjoy the harvest alone, but immediately returned to the ship and distributed most of the fish to every household in the village to help them through the difficult times."

"Although Zhao Bo's deeds are not as spectacular as General Li Jing's, he is equally a hero in our hearts. He used his actions to interpret what responsibility and commitment are." When the old sailor said this, his eyes reddened slightly, and he was obviously full of deep nostalgia and admiration for Zhao Bo.

After hearing this story, the young man from Zufar was also deeply moved. He said with emotion: "Whether it is General Li Jing or Zhao Bo, they are shining examples in their respective times and regions. Their bravery and wisdom not only saved the country and the people, but also conveyed a spirit of perseverance and courage to take responsibility. This spirit is something that all of us should learn and inherit."

At this time, another young crew member of Daming also joined the discussion. He said excitedly: "Speaking of inheritance, we Daming not only attach importance to the inheritance of heroic deeds, but also pay more attention to the exchange of skills and culture. Just like what we saw in the handicraft workshop just now, the craftsmen of Daming and Zufar have benefited a lot from each other through communication and learning. This cross-cultural exchange not only makes our skills more sophisticated, but also deepens our friendship."

The craftsman representative of Zufar also nodded in agreement and said, "It is true that skills have no borders. Through today's exchange, we not only learned the exquisite craftsmanship of the Daming Dynasty, but also felt the enthusiasm and talent of the Daming craftsmen. Such exchanges are precious treasures for both sides. We look forward to more such opportunities in the future."

As the night deepens, the conversations around the campfire become more warm and profound, with wisdom and emotions from different cultural backgrounds intertwining and colliding here.

A young scholar named Zufaer, with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes, asked the Ming scholar beside him: "I heard that the Ming culture has a long history, and its poetry and songs are particularly outstanding. I wonder if I can experience it on the spot?"

The Ming scholar smiled slightly, bowed and said: "I will obey your command. However, there is no pen, ink, paper or inkstone here, so I will recite it orally and offer a poem "Quiet Night Thoughts" to match this scene." After speaking, he cleared his throat and chanted slowly: "The moonlight shines on the bed, I wonder if it is frost on the ground. I look up at the moon and think of my hometown."

As soon as the poem came out, the surroundings suddenly became quiet, and even the bonfire seemed to burn more gently, reflecting on everyone's face, adding a bit of homesickness. Zufaer people nodded in praise, and an old man said with emotion: "Although this poem is short, it is sincere and touching, and people can't help but immerse themselves in the longing for home. The culture of the Ming Dynasty is indeed profound."

The Ming scholar shook his head modestly and said, "Poetry is a minor path. The major path is to cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the country and bring peace to the world. What we value more is how to put what we have learned into practice and benefit the people."

At this time, a young warrior from Zufar stood up and said with great pride: "The knowledge of the Ming Dynasty is admirable, but we Zufarers also have our pride. We advocate bravery and freedom, take the sea as our home, and the ship as our horse. I wonder if there are any warriors in the Ming Dynasty willing to learn martial arts from me?" A burly man walked out from the Ming Dynasty crew. He smiled and patted the young warrior on the shoulder, saying: "Martial arts are not for fighting, but for protection. However, since you are interested in this, I will accompany you to fight a few moves, and then stop."

The two found an open space, did a few warm-up exercises, and then started fighting. At first, the Zufaer warrior attacked fiercely, and his punches were powerful; while the Ming man used softness to overcome hardness, and easily resolved the opponent's attack. After a few rounds, both of them were sweating profusely, but they smiled at each other, and there was a little more respect between them.

"Brother Daming, you have great skills!" Warrior Zufar praised while panting.

"You're not bad either. Zufaer's martial arts are indeed unique." The Ming man responded. The two shook hands and made peace, and warm applause rang out all around.

At this time, a young woman from Zufar brought a plate of fruit and said softly, "Dear friends who have come from afar, please try our Zufar specialty - coconut milk mango. I hope its sweetness can dispel your fatigue."

Everyone took the fruit, tasted it, and praised it highly. A scholar from Daming said while eating: "The delicious food and beautiful scenery, plus such a harmonious exchange, this trip is really worthwhile. I hope that the friendship between Daming and Zufaer will last forever and witness more beautiful times together."

"Well said!" Everyone echoed in unison, and the laughter around the campfire rang out again.

As the night deepened, the people around the campfire seemed to have forgotten the passage of time and were immersed in sharing and communicating with each other. An old musician from Zufar was infected by the warm atmosphere in front of him. He stroked the dutar in his hand and said slowly:

"Music is our common language. It can cross thousands of mountains and rivers and connect every heart that longs to understand and be understood. Let me use this piano to add another melody to the beautiful time tonight."

After that, he plucked the strings of the zither, and a melodious and slightly sad melody flowed in the air. This song tells a story about separation and reunion. The melody contains both the longing for distant relatives and the expectation of reunion in the future. The people of Daming listened quietly, as if they could feel the emotional resonance that transcended time and space.

At the end of the song, a young poet from Daming stood up. He looked at the starry sky and suddenly got inspired. He recited softly:
"The Milky Way separates us from each other, and the sound of the zither tells our innermost feelings.

We share the exotic customs on this night, enjoying the bright moon and chatting together.

Although it is said that there are friends all over the world, it is even better if the world is far away and we are close to each other.

I wish the moon of this night every year could illuminate the love in the world.”

His poems were like a gentle breeze, making everyone present feel the charm of culture and the warmth of humanity. People in Zufar applauded and appreciated the talent of the young poet.

Afterwards, the topics of discussion became more extensive and in-depth. Some people talked about their respective religious beliefs and philosophical thinking, some shared their adventures and insights during the journey, and some expressed their prospects and expectations for future trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"We believe that through continuous communication and cooperation, the understanding and friendship between the Ming Dynasty and Zufar will become deeper and deeper." A Ming Dynasty official said confidently.

“Yes, just like the bonfire tonight, although it will eventually go out, the warmth and light it leaves behind will always illuminate our way forward,” an elder of Zufar responded affectionately.

As the night deepened, the people around the campfire began to disperse one after another, but the warmth and connection in their hearts that came from communication was like a flame that never went out, illuminating each other's hearts.

As the night deepened, the originally warm and harmonious atmosphere suddenly underwent a subtle change. A burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence, and several nervous-looking Zuffal soldiers hurried over. Their arrival seemed to bring a sense of uneasiness.

"Report! We found a group of unidentified pirates approaching our village!" the leading soldier reported anxiously, his tone revealing a tension that could not be ignored.

This sudden news surprised everyone present, and the originally relaxed and happy atmosphere froze instantly. The people of Daming and Zufar quickly exchanged glances. Without saying anything, they all knew that they had to unite at this moment to face this sudden threat together.

"We must act immediately to protect the village and innocent villagers." A general of the Ming Dynasty stood up decisively. His voice was firm and powerful, and quickly stabilized people's hearts.

Under the command of the generals, the people of Daming and Zufar quickly organized themselves, and they divided the work and cooperated with each other. Some people were responsible for vigilance and defense, while others notified and evacuated the villagers to a safe area. The air was filled with a tense and resolute atmosphere, and everyone understood that this would be a tough battle.

However, just as both sides were preparing to meet the enemy, the situation took an unexpected turn. The so-called "pirates" suddenly stopped, and the leader shouted loudly: "We are misunderstood explorers, not pirates! We just strayed into this sea area, and we request a peaceful solution to this matter!" (End of this chapter)