The Moon in the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 658: Heaven Sacrifice! Black Dragon! (Please give me a monthly pass at the end of the month~)

Of course, there are also some smart and courageous ones who are more proactive.

Those who had some connection with the Yin-Yang School and Taoism secretly went to ask the Taoism and the Yin-Yang School, but of course there was no result. Not to mention that they didn't know whether this matter was true or not, even if they knew, they couldn't say it.

Zou Xie was also secretly wondering whether what Ying Zheng said was true or not. Judging from the astronomical phenomena, it was impossible to tell.

Of course, Taoists can’t see it either.

The two families all claimed that they knew nothing, saying that fate was not something that mortals could talk about. Only the emperor could know clearly.

Everyone was waiting and watching. In any case, the result would come out soon after the sacrifice to heaven. We would know what the king wanted to do at that time.

Finally, the time for offering sacrifices to heaven has arrived.

Three days later, at 5:55 am, outside Xianyang city, on the bank of the Wei River.

The world seemed to have not yet awakened from the chaos of the beginning of the universe, and the inky night had not yet completely faded. Only in the eastern sky, a ray of dawn was like a sharp sword, trying hard to cut through the night.

The Wei River in the distance flows quietly in the haze, and a thin layer of mist covers the surface of the water, like a dream.

At this moment, both sides of the Wei River, the road leading to Xianyang, including the altar for offering sacrifices to heaven, were surrounded and guarded by the sharp soldiers of the Qin Dynasty like a steel barrier.

The elite imperial guards of the Qin Dynasty were clad in black armor, the armor plates flashing coldly in the dim light, and they held spears with spear tips like a forest, and the chilling aura seemed to be able to freeze the air.

All the warriors stood straight with stern faces, like finely carved stone statues. A murderous aura permeated the air, making everything around them silent under this majesty.

In this airtight protective array, Ying Zheng's jade carriage, pulled by six completely black horses without a trace of other colors, slowly headed towards the altar.

Last night, all the roads in Xianyang were cleaned.

At the time of Yin today, all the roads that Ying Zheng would pass through were under martial law. The eunuchs held a road-opening ceremony outside the gate of Xianyang Palace. Seventy-two boys and seventy-two girls sprinkled water and swept the ground where the emperor's jade carriage would pass, in order to cleanse the foul air from the world.

The Emperor's Jade Chariot, also known as the Jade Chariot or the Great Chariot, is the most honorable of the five chariots of the Emperor. No one except the Emperor can ride it. Even the Emperor can only use it when holding grand court meetings, important sacrificial ceremonies, or touring the country.

The entire body of Ying Zheng's jade chariot is made of green, and the body is decorated with a large amount of jade. The shaft, balance, and all parts of the carriage are decorated with exquisite jade carvings, with auspicious patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and auspicious clouds. Every carving is lifelike.

The jade carriage is three zhang long, one zhang high and one zhang wide. It uses two shafts and six horses to pull it, which is called the unification of the six.

The carriage is decorated with flags, with a golden banner with the sun and the moon in front, and a brocade banner with five stars in a row and five mythical beasts in the back. There are leopard tail ribbons on both sides of the carriage, and pictures of hundreds of beasts are embroidered with gold and silver threads.

Twelve strings of bronze bells are hung under the yoke, with three bells in each string. The sound is like that of chimes, and the sound creates a musical harmony with the singing of phoenixes and cranes when the chariot is moving.

The armrests of the carriage are engraved with the seal script "Mandated by Heaven" and "The Emperor is the Supreme"; the paddles are painted with pictures of the twelve mythical beasts, and on the left and right sides there are additional patterns of Zhulong holding the sun and Yinglong breathing fire; the inner and outer rings of the wheel hubs are engraved with the pattern of the Kyushu Yugong map, implying that the world belongs to Qin.

At the front of the convoy were eight hundred elite cavalrymen leading the way, and behind them was a ceremonial music band of 108 people. The sounds of bells and drums, horns, and zithers were intertwined together, interpreting the majestic music of the emperor's journey. The music was majestic and loud, as if it could penetrate the clouds.

Behind the band was a 380-member guard of honor, all dressed in colorful costumes. In the front was a guard of honor with weapons, holding axes, halberds, spears, swords, etc. The weapons shone coldly in the sun, demonstrating the majesty of the Qin Dynasty.

Then came the canopy ceremonial procession holding banners, fans, umbrellas, covers, etc. There were dozens of different types of banners, including dragon head banners, leopard tail banners, crimson lead banners, and letter banners. Each of the banners was embroidered with auspicious symbols such as the sun, moon, dragon, tiger, etc. There were dozens of different types of banners, all of which were colorful and had exquisite designs.

Next came the twenty imperial horses, their bodies splendidly decorated, all divine horses selected from thousands of miles away. Moreover, each of them was extremely beautiful, with pure fur color, some like the white snow, flawless; some like the red clouds, ardent and unrestrained; some like the black and shiny gold, majestic and profound. As the horses' hooves stepped forward, the necklaces swayed and the bronze bells rang.

After that, there were twelve first-class secret guards guarding the perimeter of the Jade Carriage, and hundreds of other elite secret guards were spread out to keep a close eye on everything.

Behind the Jade Chariot, there was an open-air carriage with nine carriages and four imperial horses, pulling the Nine Cauldrons, following closely behind the Jade Chariot.

The giant beast cast in bronze is crawling on a copper base with coiled dragon patterns. Its tripod legs are like a dragon exploring the abyss, and the taotie patterns on its belly are shining coldly in the firelight for a thousand years.

This is the symbol of the Lord of Shenzhou cast by King Yu in the past. Legend has it that King Yu divided the world into nine states, collected the essence of all the mountains, rivers and rivers in the world, ordered the nine states to contribute bronze, and used the gold of the nine herdsmen to cast nine tripods, symbolizing the nine states!

The famous mountains and rivers as well as the strange objects in Kyushu across the country are all engraved on the body of the Nine Cauldrons. Every edge and every pattern on the body of the cauldrons are the veins of the mountains and rivers of Kyushu, carrying the majesty and weight of history, as well as the symbol of supreme power!
For nearly two thousand years, countless people have wanted to obtain the Nine Cauldrons, and now, it is a treasure of the Qin King's treasury.

After the Nine Cauldrons, the three prime ministers rode together in the Four-Driven Golden Chariot, which was Ying Zheng's preferential treatment for the prime ministers.

After them came the Three Dukes, Cabinet ministers, princes and nobles, each riding in a chariot with four imperial horses; the rest of the officials, those with a salary of more than 600 dan, and nobles above the rank of Gongchariot rode horses.

People below this level, um, are not even qualified to walk, and are not qualified at all to accompany Ying Zheng to offer sacrifices to heaven.

At the end of the convoy, there were eight hundred elite cavalrymen guarding the rear, and many Xuanyu secret guards were paying attention to everything to ensure that no accidents would occur.

The sound of trumpets pierced the sky with a low sob. Wherever the emperor's procession passed, all the people fell to the ground and kowtowed. No one dared to breathe, and prostrated themselves before this supreme power and majesty. Only wonder and awe spread in their hearts.

In the face of this supreme majesty and power, everyone becomes small and humble.

The Qin warriors were like a steel wall, their armors were cold, their spears were like a forest, and their murderous aura froze the air. They stood tall and straight, their eyes were like torches, staring at everything in front of them, and would never allow anyone to overstep their bounds or do anything wrong.

The banks of the Weishui River are a place where people often offer sacrifices to the heavens. There is a twelve-meter-high altar for offering sacrifices to the heavens, which is built entirely of huge bluestone. There are mysterious totems carved around it, such as dragons, phoenixes, black birds, unicorns, auspicious clouds, etc. It exudes a solemn and ancient atmosphere in the dim light of morning light.

As soon as the jade carriage stopped, hundreds of strong men lifted the Nine Cauldrons onto the altar at the fastest and steadiest speed, and arranged them in threes. The grains and livestock had also been prepared and placed neatly on the altar.

Accompanied by exciting drums and music, Ying Zheng, surrounded by the crowd, slowly stepped down from the jade carriage. It was almost noon, and the red sun in the distant sky had already risen most of the way out.

The morning light broke through the horizon, illuminating the jade curtain of Ying Zheng's twelve-tasseled crown. In the dim light, the jade beads carved from the finest jade were round and translucent, reflecting a cool light.

As he walked, the tassels on his crown swayed slightly and the jade stones collided, making crisp sounds. This was a magnificent sound that belonged exclusively to the Emperor.

Ying Zheng was wearing a black robe embroidered with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, seas, birds and beasts. The twelve-chapter pattern was embroidered with gold thread and cloud brocade. He wore the Tai'a sword and the Heshi Bi on his waist and held a jade gui in his arms. His whole body was faintly shining in the dawn light, like a god descending from heaven, emitting an absolutely sacred and majestic aura.

Ying Zheng walked slowly to the altar and climbed up the stairs, each step was steady and powerful. The three dukes, nine ministers, civil and military officials were all waiting respectfully below the stage. They were dressed in court robes, looked solemn, and bowed their heads slightly, not daring to look directly at the majesty of the emperor. Offering sacrifices to heaven is to express respect for heaven and earth. This is a privilege exclusive to the emperor, demonstrating the emperor's supreme divine power and status.

When Ying Zheng stepped onto the altar, in an instant, drums and music sounded, zithers and harps harmonized, and the sounds of bells and chimes rose melodiously. The passionate music intertwined, resounding through heaven and earth, grand and majestic!
After Ying Zheng stepped onto the altar, he turned around, faced the east, raised his head slightly, and looked at the sky that was gradually brightening.

Jiangshan Jiangshan and Weishui, the largest tributary of the Yellow River, witnessed the rise of the Qin Dynasty and its future unification!
Xianyang will be the center of the vast rivers and mountains!

At this time, the rising sun penetrated the clouds, and the first ray of light fell on the Wei River, sparkling. The river water seemed to be ignited, and the golden and red light flowed freely.

The hour of Chen has arrived.

Ying Zheng walked to the altar close to the edge of the Wei River. In an instant, raging fire ignited in the Nine Cauldrons, twenty-four trumpets tore through the sky, and thirty-six Kui-skin war drums shook the earth. The Wei River rippled in the sound waves.

Eighty-one ceremonial officials dressed in colorful sacrificial robes lined up in rows, holding jade zhangs, jade congs and other ritual objects, and danced around the altar.

Ying Zheng specifically asked Confucianism to add the Nine-Legged Dance to the Eight-Legged Dance, using this supreme number as the dance for offering sacrifices to heaven. This was also to establish his own right to speak on etiquette.

Ying Zheng held the jade sceptre in his hand and said loudly:

"The great Heaven has mercy on the earth, and its grace shines upon all. Its benevolence is evident. Its broad virtue supports all things, and all things are at peace, each living in its own right. Spring sprouts, summer grows, autumn harvests, and winter stores. The four seasons are in order, nourishing growth."

"The Emperor of Heaven is above, with benevolence and virtue, nurturing all creatures, and shining his light on all things. The mountains, rivers, and land are moistened and fertile; the birds and beasts look up to him for shelter and survival. When the human world is in misery, he often sends blessings, saving the people from water and fire, and alleviating their distress."

“Even if there is rebellion in the world, Heaven is lenient and does not punish immediately, giving people the opportunity to correct their mistakes. Its virtue is vast, like the vast ocean, tolerant and infinite, like the vastness of the sky, covering the boundless. All people are in awe and grateful for its virtue, and the praises will never stop, and will be passed down through the ages.”

"Government is the master of the world. All sins are the fault of me. Government is the will of heaven and reigns over the world. We should educate the people and guide them on the right path. However, fools are still rebellious and customs are still flawed."

"Zheng is the Son of Heaven. Today, he has not yet achieved perfect governance, causing suffering to the people. This is all Zheng's fault and his lack of virtue. Now I offer a sacrifice to the heavens, willing to use the punishment of my own body to atone for the sins of the people."

"Today, at the grand ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, I reflect with all my heart and hope that heaven will have mercy on me. I pray that heaven will bring down auspicious signs again, protect our Great Qin, bring favorable weather, and bring peace and prosperity to the country and the people. The government must spare no effort to make up for the shortcomings and correct the mistakes, so as to live up to the trust of heaven and the expectations of the people."

"The great Heaven is kind and loving. All living beings bow their heads in awe; the common people sing and praise the virtue of Heaven forever. For thousands of years, the good deeds will be recorded in the books, and the praise will be passed down through the ages."

With the highest and deepest inner strength, the words of Ying Zheng's sacrifice to the heaven spread throughout the surrounding ten miles, echoing with long and majestic power. And with Ying Zheng's exquisite control to the extreme, even on this altar, people nearby did not feel uncomfortable.

This one move alone is enough to scare people to death. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is like a god descending to earth.

After Ying Zheng finished speaking, he raised his hand, and five-colored grains flew in front of him. Then he waved his sleeves, and all of them flew into the Wei River.

"Five-colored and five-grain vegetarian offering. Enjoy!"

Then, the slaughtered and cleaned livestock were swept into the Wei River by Ying Zheng with a wave of his sleeves.

"Sacrifice all kinds of animals. Enjoy!"

"Bright water, mysterious wine, mysterious virtue. Enjoy!"

Immediately afterwards, the Xuan wine was also thrown into the river.

Finally, Ying Zheng personally took the six jades, used the blue bi to worship the sky, the yellow cong to worship the earth, the green gui to worship the east, the red zhang to worship the south, the white amber to worship the west, and the black huang to worship the north. He bowed three times to each direction with each jade and threw it into the Wei River.

The ceremony of offering sacrifice to heaven is completed.

At this moment, a black shadow more than ten meters long was winding at the bottom of the Wei River.

The horses on the shore seemed to have sensed something. No matter how fine the horses were, even the horses that galloped fearlessly on the battlefield, they were now full of anxiety. Their hooves kept kicking, their snorts kept snorting, and they exhaled mixed and rough breaths. The bronze gilt bridles jingled in the violent struggle, and the bells all over their bodies also rang continuously.

Suddenly, circles of inky black whirlpools appeared on the water surface.

A black shadow more than ten meters long broke out from the Wei River!

The river water rose dozens of feet high, exploding into huge waves!

Amidst the flying water waves and pearl flowers, a black dragon with five legs and five claws, dark in color except for its golden eyes, flew up. The scales on its body glowed with a cold blue light, and molten gold flowed between its vertical pupils as it opened and closed. Misty water vapor lingered around its body.

The black dragon circled around the altar in the sky, right in front of everyone! Thousands of people! Right after Ying Zheng finished offering sacrifices to the heaven!
The dragon appeared.

The black dragon was dancing around the altar, or rather, it was dancing around Ying Zheng who was on the altar.

The swirling hurricane caused by the whirling and flying blew the flags, and the water vapor brought coolness and fear, cold sweat.

In an instant, everyone was at a loss and terrified, and the fear overwhelmed them like a tide.

No one knows what this black dragon wants to do?
Such a huge creature, the legendary beast, is now flying in the sky, appearing so vividly in reality and in front of everyone.

Everyone laughs at Ye Gong’s love of dragons, but if such a mythical beast really appears before our eyes, who would not be afraid?
The terrifying majesty and huge body shrouded the sky, just a dozen feet above everyone's heads. As the black dragon circled and flew, it brought up a violent gale that carried a large amount of water vapor, making people's clothes rustle and their faces hurt.

Many of the thousand-mile steeds did not even have the courage to escape. They were so scared that they collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, and did not even dare to neigh.

The situation of people was not much better. Countless people were frightened to the point that their legs went limp and they collapsed to the ground. Many others simply fell to their knees and kowtowed repeatedly, with their foreheads hitting the ground with a dull sound.

Even the Qin warriors who had experienced hundreds of battles and were accustomed to life and death, many of them had fear in their eyes at this moment, and the hands holding their weapons trembled slightly.

The legend has become reality.

(End of this chapter)