History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 834 Fireworks Disease Dragon Platform

【Fireworks Disease Dragon Platform】

Chai Rong was born into a merchant family and was considered a famous second-generation rich man in Hebei. When he was young, he followed a foreign boss (Hu merchant) Jie Di to the national tea distribution center - Jingnan area to sell tea and other commodities. In Jiangling City, there was a well-known "Mr. Wang" who was said to be able to calculate, know astronomy, geography, harmony among people, Qimen, Dunjia, Yin and Yang, and Bagua... His skills were like a god, and he had the ability to predict the future.

Chai Rong went to visit with Jie Die and asked for divination. The result was an incredible scene. When it was Chai Rong's turn, the divination stick suddenly jumped out of the divination tube and stood upright on the table.

Mr. Wang was shocked and said that our family has been doing this business for more than ten generations. I heard my great-grandfather say that if the hexagram sticks pop up automatically, it means that the person asking the hexagram will be extremely wealthy in the future. What's more, the sticks can stand on their own and not fall. Could it be that this person will become the emperor in the future? Before he finished speaking, Mr. Wang hurriedly stood up, lifted his clothes and knelt down, bowing to Chai Rong again.

"Don't say such things casually. Don't talk nonsense!" Chai Rong seemed furious and scolded Mr. Wang, but he was already very happy in his heart.

When Chai Rong returned to the hotel at night, he tossed and turned and could not fall asleep, so he forced Jie Die to drink with him. When they were half drunk, Chai Rong asked Jie Die: "Mr. Wang said that I can become the emperor. Hey, seriously, if one day I really become the emperor, what official position do you want me to give you?"

Jie Die originally thought it was just a joke, but after Chai Rong's repeated instigation, he began to fantasize seriously. After thinking for a while, Jie Die said solemnly: "I have been a professional foreign trader for 30 years, and have also been dealing with customs for 30 years. We businessmen get up early and stay up late, travel all over the country, not only work hard, but also take risks, but earn only a fraction of the profit, while those people in the customs are simply sitting there dividing the spoils, without moving a muscle or shaking their arms, plucking feathers from passing geese, and they earn more in a day than I earn in several months! Oh, I really envy them. Let's stop here today. If you can really become the emperor, please let me be the director of the Chang'an and Luoyang Customs Taxation Bureau (Jingluo Taxation Bureau)."

Chai Rong laughed in silence, "That's all? Your appetite is too small!"

Later, when Chai Rong took the throne, he immediately summoned his old friend Jie Die to fulfill his promise. It is estimated that Jie Die was surprised, but also felt a little disappointed and fortunate, for example, fortunate that he did not make an excessive joke at that time. If he had said "Then I will be the chief eunuch", he would be Barbie Q today.

Because of his status as a businessman, after the Song Dynasty, Chai Rong was worshipped as one of the "Five Wealth Gods" by the people, and was honored as "Lord Chai". Among the Five Wealth Gods, he was the "Lord of Wealth". To this day, every fifth day of the first lunar month, many places have the custom of "welcoming the God of Wealth". At the same time, because of his attribute of being a "construction maniac", he was worshipped as the patron saint of miners, kiln workers, and construction workers.

After Chai Rong ascended the throne, he had great ambitions. He was only worried that he would not live long enough to complete the great cause of unification. He heard that the minister Wang Pu was good at fortune-telling and arithmetic, so he sincerely asked him, "Can you calculate how many years I can live?"

Wang Pu counted on his fingers and said, "Your Majesty has devoted all his energy to serving the people and seeking the welfare of the people. This has moved the heavens, so of course you will enjoy eternal blessings. I am not very capable and my level is limited... If you really want me to say something, I can only say that after thirty, I don't know what will happen."

Upon hearing this, Chai Rong slapped his thigh in joy and said, "Thirty years is enough! I have spent ten years expanding the country, ten years supporting the people, and ten years bringing peace. That is enough!"

Gou Jian, King of Yue, spent ten years gathering people and ten years training his troops. Twenty years later, three thousand soldiers of Yue conquered Wu. Chai Rong had ten more years than him because his goal was not to be a hegemon, but to complete the great cause of unification, so he spent ten more years "opening up the world".

"Give me thirty years, and I'll give you a peaceful and prosperous world." - Chai Rong

However, after Chai Rong's death, people suddenly realized that Wang Pu was not lying. Chai Rong was in office for five years and six months, five, six and thirty. Wang Pu said thirty, not thirty years. Moreover, three months before Chai Rong's death, Comrade Wang Pu died in a hurry, so he said "after thirty, I don't know."

According to folk legend, when Chai Rong conquered the three passes in the north and decided to retake Youzhou against all odds, the Khitan heard that he was leading the army in person and their king and ministers were terrified. The counties and prefectures on the border surrendered, and the Khitan defenders in Youzhou also fled overnight. Chai Rong was very happy when he heard about it, believing that the feat of retaking the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun was about to be realized, so he climbed a high hill to review his troops.

When the local people heard that the emperor of the Central Plains was leading the army to rescue them, they were so excited that tears welled up in their eyes and they welcomed the army with food and drink. Chai Rong cordially received the representatives of the masses and had a long conversation with them.

During this time, Chai Rong asked, "What is the name of this place?"

The old man replied, "It has been passed down from generation to generation and is called the Sick Dragon Terrace."

Chai Rong's face immediately changed, and he didn't care about basic etiquette, jumped on his horse and galloped away. That night, Chai Rong began to fall ill, and soon died due to ineffective treatment.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun were occupied by the Khitans for many years. Some people never forgot that they were from the Central Plains. They looked forward to the king's army to drive out the Tartars and restore China. When they died, they did not forget to tell their descendants, "When the king's army conquers the Central Plains, don't forget to tell your father during the family sacrifice." But some people happily accepted the new identity of citizens of the Liao Kingdom. They did not have a strong sense of identity with the Central Plains. They were "Liao-essence" elements. What's wrong with the grassland? The air there is sweet.

When Chai Rong conquered the three passes in the north, these "Jiao Liao" elements discussed with each other, saying that we should not panic, and the people of the Central Plains would definitely be in trouble. Because the emperor of the Central Plains was surnamed Chai, and Youzhou was the ancient Yan land, and Yan is the homonym of "smoke", and firewood only emits smoke when it is on fire, so Chai Rong's personal expedition to Youyan was a sign of throwing firewood into fire, so how could the people of the Central Plains succeed?

It is said that before Chai Rong became emperor, he dreamed of an immortal who said, "Young man, I see that you have amazing bones... I have two things here, don't miss them if you pass by..." Then he gave him a big golden umbrella and a Taoist scripture. Later, Chai Rong ascended the throne. When Chai Rong was sick at Waqiao Pass, he dreamed of the immortal again. The immortal smiled kindly and said to him, "Is it time to return the umbrella and the scripture to me?" Chai Rong returned the items to their original owners, and then he felt something was wrong. He screamed and woke up from his dream.

When the attendants heard Chai Rong's cry, they rushed forward to check the situation. They saw that Chai Rong was sweating profusely and was still in shock. He said to the attendants: "My dream is ominous. Maybe my life is coming to an end." Then he urgently summoned the important ministers who were entrusted with the care of the orphan to explain the funeral arrangements.

Like Chai Rong, many legendary figures have various folk legends, which are so varied and miraculous that people don't want to believe that they are mortals like you and me, otherwise why would they create all kinds of miracles? It must be the incarnation of some star, or the help of gods and people, or it must be destiny, etc.

This is a simple expression of emotion, a way for the people to remember and commemorate the heroes. We don't need to go into the details, let alone criticize it as feudal superstition.

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(End of this chapter)