Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 14 Talk Again

"Please take a seat."

After He Bo came in with his men, he pointed to the soft mat on the ground.

Subsequently,

Ghosts, gods and mortals knelt facing each other. On the low table in the middle, there appeared several cakes and teas that were unique to He Bo’s memory.

Although he couldn't eat in reality, this was a dream, so He Bo could naturally conjure up some food and drinks to satisfy his appetite.

The ghost and god woodcut cakes are good for filling your stomach.

Ximen Bao was quite curious about everything around him.

The structure of the house was created by He Bo based on the scenes he saw in movies and TV shows when he was a human being. The overall style of the house is that of the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Although they are still kneeling, it is much more luxurious than in this world.

However, Ximen Bao took the fact that the residence of ghosts and gods was very luxurious well.

If the lives of ghosts and gods are not as good as those of mortals, are they still ghosts and gods?

What made him even more curious were the novel pastries and drinks in front of him.

The delicious taste that did not pass through the body but directly affected the deep inside made Ximen Bao's appetite increase.

"The divination says it will take another two days."

While tasting the delicacy that only ghosts and gods could enjoy, Ximen Bao did not forget to answer the question that He Bo had asked earlier.

"If I say I hope to bring water to irrigate the fields as soon as possible, would you be willing?"

He Bo said to him again.

Ximen Bao had no objection.

He originally did not believe in ghosts and gods, but after meeting He Bo, he became respectful.

But Ximen Bao did not change his pragmatic nature.

He was respectful.
This is because He Bo does have the power to destroy Ye County, and the local villagers generally obey the orders of ghosts and gods.

Before He Bo appeared in person, he was able to make people throw countless young girls into the river, not to mention how crazy it would be if he really appeared in person.

However, Ximen Bao's original attitude towards divination remained unchanged.

It’s not because Ximen Bao can only have a “one-to-one” belief in ghosts and gods, but because the method of divination has been popular for thousands of years and its techniques have long been understood by people.

For example, during the Shang Dynasty, people were able to use specific techniques to burn specific patterns on oracle bones, which would add sacredness to the orders issued by the Shang king and reduce resistance.

As for how Ximen Bao knew this secret, it was due to the teachings of Confucianism.

No matter how decadent the Confucian scholars of later generations may be,
The Confucian disciples at this time could be described as open-minded and pragmatic, and were experts in many aspects.

Moreover, in order to compete with other schools of thought for the status of a prominent school, Confucianism requires continuous learning, and the broader the knowledge, the better, so as to avoid being left speechless by others.

When Confucius was alive, he had studied things related to sacrifices. Now that it was passed down to Ximen Bao's generation, and coincided with such a major event as the division of Jin among the three families, even the chime bells could be passed down, let alone some divination techniques?

But digging canals to divert water is ultimately related to real ghosts and gods.

To show respect, Ximen Bao acted according to the results of divination and tried his best to avoid conflicts between humans and gods.

Now that He Bo himself has taken the initiative to propose to move forward, how could Ximen Bao refuse?
However, Ximen Bao still had some questions about the requirements of ghosts and gods.

"May I ask He Bo, why are you so anxious?"

There are only two days left. Ximen Bao, the magistrate of Ye who is in urgent need of making results, is not in a hurry. Why would ghosts and gods want to do it in advance?

“Just wanted to do something.”

He Bo's original intention,
Naturally, he wanted to use the power of incense and vows to take himself to a higher level, not only becoming the Lord of the Zhangshui River, but also the Lord of the mountains, rivers and the country.

However, when these words fell into Ximen Bao's ears, they had a different meaning.

The ghosts and gods are actually so kind-hearted that they want to take the initiative to nourish the people?

Ximen Bao was so surprised by this that he even put down the food in his hand.

"If that's the case... why do we need human sacrifice?"

Throwing people into the river alive,

In fact, it is not unique to Yedi.

Human beings depend on rivers for survival and live and multiply along rivers. Therefore, the rise and fall of rivers is a matter of life and death for people on both sides of the river.

However, most people in the world are ignorant and do not know that the rise and fall of the river water follows a certain pattern. They only think that it is controlled by ghosts and gods. Therefore, they want to please the ghosts and gods, stabilize the river water, and pray for a good year.

Except for the Zhang River, legends of "He Bo" and "Water God" are more or less circulated on both sides of every major river.

Naturally, the incident of "He Bo getting married" is not uncommon, and in some places where it has been passed down for a long time, it has even become a special ceremony.

In Ye County, in fact, it has only been in the past decade or so that this kind of ceremony has been held continuously due to intimidation from witches and local gentry, which has deepened the fear of "He Bo".

If it was really an old tradition passed down for generations and hundreds of years, Ximen Bao would not dare to throw the witch into the river directly.

Ximen Bao was very confused by He Bo's words. He didn't know that in the past ten years or so, people sank to the bottom of the river every year, but the ghosts and gods never said anything.

Why are you suddenly so warm-hearted now?
How could He Bo say that he had only appeared in this world in the past two or three years?
Be a God,

It still needs to be a bit mysterious.

He sympathizes with the innocent women who were victimized, but does not blame himself for the problem.

So he said, "Those who threw people into the river are also human beings. Why didn't anyone do what Ye Ling did before?"

"As for me, I am just thinking about action after being too quiet."

Ximen Bao was also speechless.

In the end, we can only ignore this issue.

no matter what,

He Bo's attitude at this time was very friendly.

He did not accuse Ximen Bao of disturbing the mortals' sacrifices to Him as soon as he took office.

Nor did he blame Ximen Bao for not being respectful enough to him.

Even if they want to do something with the power of ghosts and gods, it is not to trouble the mortals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but to do good.

If Ximen Bao continues to be fussy about it, he will be ungrateful.

"We'll dig a canal to divert water tomorrow!"

After figuring this out, Ximen Bao immediately said, "Please help He Bo!"

What he meant was that Ximen Bao was willing to cooperate with the "pointing at the ground as a channel" thing that He Bo had mentioned before.

You must know that showing your holiness before others,

The emphasis is not on "holiness" but on "manifestation".

It is necessary to let people see clearly what is actually showing the divine power, rather than looking for the owner of the miracle afterwards and finding the wrong person, or simply regarding it as the work of nature and leaving it at that with a few sighs.

What He Bo wants,

It is to let the world know clearly that the spiritual and powerful being is the "God of Zhangshui"!
It's not something weird!

such,

Only in this way can you attract others to light incense, collect wishes, and facilitate yourself.

As the magistrate of Ye, Ximen Bao was willing to be a witness, which also enhanced the legend of the "God of Zhang River".

Everyone knows that
The credibility of words varies depending on one's status.

No matter how absurd a word from the king is, there will always be people who will believe it and do it.

And in Ye, among the mortals, who has a higher status than Ximen Bao?

We will publicize it later.
The appearance of He Bo is not just a legend from some place, but a true story with witnesses!
This has both advantages and disadvantages for Ximen Bao.

The benefit is obvious. It can make Ximen Bao famous quickly. Anyone who believes in He Bo will pay attention to this name.

The disadvantages are also obvious.

Even though he was a disciple of Confucianism, and his ancestors had told him to "respect ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance", he still colluded with ghosts and gods, which was somewhat against his ancestors' teachings. Moreover, his future achievements would inevitably be regarded by others as being achieved with the help of ghosts and gods, which would greatly neglect the person himself.

Fortunately, Ximen Bao doesn't care about the latter.

As long as he can produce clear results, the only person who will be valued and employed by the monarch will be Ximen Bao.

Can the monarch appoint ghosts and gods as officials?

Even the emperor can’t do it!
"But there is one more thing I want to tell you."

He Bo suddenly remembered something and said to Ximen Bao again.

(End of this chapter)