Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 597 The Boy from Hejian
When the summer heat fades
The bleak autumn wind blows, and the grass and trees quickly turn yellow and withered.

"Winter seems to have come earlier this year."

Walking on the land of Hebei,
As Zhang Jiao felt the cool breeze caressing his hair, which was now streaked with frost, he couldn't help but stop and reminisce with his brother Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang said, "The Mandate of Heaven for the Han Dynasty is shifting, and the country is declining day by day. It is understandable that the celestial phenomena are different from the past."

Some time ago,

Didn't they hear that the Sui and Qi states of the new Xia dynasty had both gone to pay tribute to the Song state of the Western Sea?
This whole Kyushu region has been turned upside down...
It was directly divided into two parts:
The Han Dynasty also received tributes from the eastern states of Qi, Wu, and Yue.

And crossing the Western Regions,
Those Xia states further west, on the other hand, began to recognize the authority of the Song state.

In this form,

Who is the true "Central Kingdom"?

In any case, Zhang Liang did not think that the Han Dynasty could still be given such a glorious and splendid name at present.

"But winter comes early, which greatly affects farming..."

Zhang Jiao wasn't too concerned about who would inherit the "Mandate of Heaven."

He came from a modestly well-off family and, as he grew up, he associated with many ordinary people.

Such grand and magnificent events as vying for the Mandate of Heaven and commanding the world...

It's not someone of his status who needs to be bothered.

This has always been the duty of the officials in the imperial court.

He simply shook his head, looking at the dry land stretching into the distance beneath his feet, and said, "I hope this winter will bring a good snowfall, so that next year will have a bountiful harvest."

A timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest.
But the snow and wind have been heavier in recent years.

It not only froze the insects and snakes in the land, but also froze to death many innocent people.

The spirit in charge of coordinating wind and rain said:
"The wind blowing from the extremely cold north is truly terrifying."

"It crossed mountains, crossed rivers, crossed us, and still has such tremendous power in the end."

Zhang Jiao then knew that

The spirits and gods did not intentionally torment this miserable human world; rather, it was a time when the world was ravaged by wind and snow.

The spirits have fulfilled their duty of protection.

unfortunately,

But people failed to do so.

Over the past few years
The emperor's neglect of his duties became increasingly apparent.

In the imperial court, the disputes that had subsided after Liang Ji's death quickly resurfaced and escalated into an even fiercer struggle than before.

Perhaps because Liang Ji was alive,

Everyone only needs to attack him.

And now,
It was more of a dispute between the eunuch faction and the upright faction.

In such a vortex
The emperor directly resorted to the "partisan purge" to silence his ears—

Although Zhang Jiao relied on the perspective of an outsider, as well as the guidance of God and his deceased predecessors,
Can understand,

The so-called "Party Prohibitions" did not refer to treacherous eunuchs misleading the emperor and inducing him, who was unfamiliar with local conditions, to issue erroneous orders that harmed loyal officials and eroded the country's prestige and foundation.
Rather, it was the emperor's attempt to use eunuchs to suppress powerful local families and demonstrate that he "still controlled the world."

The latter, in order to protect their own interests and further expand their influence in the region, launched several attacks on the eunuchs, killing them directly without consulting the emperor.

Moreover, after killing the eunuchs and seizing their property, the upright officials who controlled public opinion had to portray themselves as sincere in their loyalty to the country and their dedication to their duties, while criticizing the eunuchs for their harm to the nation.

After all, they couldn't actually attack the emperor.

Therefore, the only option is to attack the emperor's henchmen.

The emperor probably chose the "partisan purge" approach because he was disgusted by the actions of the "pure stream" faction.

From a perspective of interests,
Both sides did nothing wrong.

The emperor naturally wanted to centralize power and suppress local authorities.

otherwise,

The area under his buttocks could no longer be stable.
Even an emperor who was addicted to sensual pleasures could no longer peacefully and happily "continue playing music and dancing."

The locals naturally want "freedom," believing that the land under their feet, where their families have thrived for centuries, should rightfully belong to their management.

As for the emperor?

As the ancients said long ago:
Only an emperor who rules by doing nothing is a true sage emperor!

The powerful families would govern the entire country well for the emperor who sat quietly on the throne.

but,

The struggle of meat-eaters

And what is its connection to Zhang Jiao and his group?

The infighting among those in power shook heaven and earth.

The boulder embankment that collapsed because of it

Besides bringing endless harm to the people below, what benefits will it bring?

The people only know that

The people who had been exploiting the village were arrested, and then new people came and continued to exploit the village.

Just like what has happened in the last two years,
The upright officials recounted the harm that the eunuchs' monopoly of power had brought to the country, covering their eyes and weeping for the increasingly decadent Han Dynasty.
They showed no concern whatsoever for the people suffering in the snowstorm.

They were so engrossed in the struggle for power that even disaster relief and appeasement of the common people became reasons and means for political infighting.

The emperor's only reaction to this was utter impatience.

He is truly intelligent and incredibly talented.
So much so that even though Liang Ji was monitoring him from the inside out, he was still able to sneak into the toilet, collude with a few people, and successfully eliminate this powerful minister.
So much so that not long after regaining power, he figured out the general situation in the court and the country, and after achieving certain merits and prestige, he chose to enjoy it for himself.

Some ministers advised the emperor to restore the valiant and wise demeanor he displayed in the early years of the Yanxi era.
The emperor simply smiled and didn't reply, instead speaking to his recently favored concubine:
"I have already accomplished the task of quelling internal and external troubles. When I go to the underworld, I will have the face to face my ancestors."

"If that's the case, why bother torturing yourself further?"

Isn't it enough to protect the family business passed down from our ancestors and prevent it from being lost in our hands?

If we wish to revitalize the nation and bring it to the prosperity of the reigns of Emperor Wu and Emperor Xuan of the Former Han Dynasty, or Emperors Ming and Zhang of the Present Han Dynasty,

That would be putting him in a really difficult position.

The mental and physical exertion required to fight against powerful clans that have been entrenched in the region for centuries is far greater than that required to fight against barbarians and rebels.

After all, the latter neither submitted to the king's rule nor challenged the rule of the Han Dynasty, so the royal army should be dispatched to eliminate him mercilessly.

On such fundamental matters
The emperor and the powerful families could still stand together.

However, when it comes to their own interests, the two sides will fight their own battles.

How many officials in the imperial court are of commoner origin and have no connection with aristocratic families?
therefore,

It's still the same saying summarized by our ancestors—

A thriving and prosperous family and nation,
It is extremely difficult to be directly destroyed by external forces.

But if it commits internal suicide, who can stop its demise?
"So be it!"

"In any case, I will definitely not be a ruler who brings about the downfall of a country."

"We must trust the wisdom of future generations!"

The emperor stroked the beauty's soft face and laughed happily.

The beauty, teased by him, smiled, placed her hands on the emperor's shoulders, and said shyly:
"The wisdom of future generations..."

"This humble servant is unworthy, but I wish to provide Your Majesty with an heir!"

Perhaps praying to gods and Buddhas does indeed have an effect.

The emperor successfully lived past the age of thirty, even longer than Emperor Zhang of Han, becoming the longest-lived emperor of the Han Dynasty since Emperor Ming.

But it was only half effective.
Like Emperor He and Emperor Shun, he has yet to raise a son.

When Empress Liang Nuying was alive,
It could also be said that she was jealous and persecuted the concubines in the harem.
but now……

The emperor could only worship the gods even more diligently, which incidentally made the harem even more abundant with women.

Humph,
Having a baby
This is also a way of fulfilling the emperor's responsibilities!

As long as the country and its people are not in immediate danger of collapse,

Isn't the greatest responsibility of a monarch to ensure the succession of his position?

then,

The emperor rolling around with a beautiful woman signifies that he intends to focus his energy on consolidating the foundation of the nation.

……

"Wine, women, song, and dance..." "Countless refugees..."

"Such a scene represents two completely unrelated worlds."

move on,

The Zhang brothers arrived in Hejian County of the Han Dynasty.

This area was once part of the Zhao state during the Warring States period, and a large river called the Tuo River flows through it.

And the Tuo River,
It is an old neighbor of Zhangshui, located to its north.

The network of waterways intertwines with the land, and has had many connections with the Zhang River.

When God rose from the Zhangshui River and expanded outwards, embracing all the beautiful mountains and rivers, the Tuoshui River was immediately harassed by He Bo.

Now,

Zhang Jiao was also following the path that God had taken, leaving the area of ​​the Zhang River and heading north.

Actually,
After he went out to preach,
Zhang Jiao mainly traveled on the plains of Guandong.

Under Wang Jing's governance, the Yellow River has gently nourished this land for over a century, transforming a region that had once suffered greatly into the most bustling and prosperous place in the Han Dynasty.

However, because it is somewhat far from Luoyang

The large-scale development following the successful river management occurred primarily during the reign of Emperor Zhang.
Therefore, the powerful families here are very influential.

After all, Emperor Zhang was not like Emperor Ming, who treated his ministers, relatives of the empress, and powerful families equally and strictly.

Moreover, after his death, a young emperor ascended the throne, and the arrogant maternal relative, the Dou clan, seized power.
The imperial court simply did not have the energy or the power to stop the powerful families here from seizing the assets that belonged to the state.

When Zhang Jiao travels through this area, he can see many things through the local ecological environment.

The Way of Peace was not only believed in by ordinary people.

When the country is prosperous and stable, the Way of Peace will naturally reveal its gentle and approachable side, making the nobles forget the power hidden within this sect.

The more complete scriptures and rituals introduced from the new Xia were enough to attract the followers of some powerful and wealthy people.

of course,

The powerful and wealthy did not recognize the *Taiping Jing*, the fundamental scripture of the Way of Great Peace.
They preferred the Taoist priests' teachings on good and evil, life and death, and gentleness and perseverance.

These ideas are very similar to those of Buddhist monks.

Since it can help the latter gain a lot of followers,
This can also help Taoist priests gain entry into the homes of the powerful and wealthy.

Thanks to these means, Zhang Jiao was able to penetrate deep into the grand gate, see the dazzling splendor inside, and smell the faint stench of decay that lingered in his nostrils.

Upon stepping out of the vermilion gate, I saw a beggar huddled in a corner of the street.
The stark contrast prompted Zhang Jiao to echo his earlier sentiments.

And such a scene

The further north you go, the closer you get to the Great Wall that separates the Central Plains from the outside world, and the more common it becomes.

It's really because the emperor is far away.
The land through which the Tuo River flows is far more difficult for Luoyang to access than the banks directly irrigated by the Yellow River.

"The situation under Liaodong's rule is probably even better than that in the Central Plains."

Zhang Liang, whose temperament was more rough and direct than his elder brother's, couldn't help but speak when he saw Zhang Jiao lamenting the hardships of the people's lives once again.

Their trip north this time,

It was because Zhang Jiao had witnessed too much devastation in the Central Plains and heard the story of his ancestor Sun En that he suddenly conceived the idea of ​​going to Liaodong to trace the footsteps of his ancestors.

Even after the Han Dynasty established Liaoyang Commandery in Liaodong, there were still many setbacks in dealing with the Gonghe Yan Kingdom.
But this didn't have much impact on the Chinese people who love to record historical stories.

What is being circulated will continue to circulate.

Just like the villain who usurped the power of the republic and sat in the Gantang Palace, indulging his own selfish desires, he tried every means but could not directly destroy the books and insights left by Sun En. He could only secretly change the words in them to obscure the way later generations pursued the truth.

No matter how rude and tyrannical the rulers of the various states were, they couldn't pull off something like a literary inquisition.
This is one of the reasons why the Han Dynasty allowed barbarian states like Goguryeo and Buyeo to grow stronger in Liaodong.

some things,

Being a gentleman is really not easy.
Even the Emperor of Han and the Sons of Heaven of all nations couldn't openly do it.

So all we can do is pretend not to see it and let it go.

However, the Murong Yan state was established.
Considering their relationship with the Former Yan,
And to win over the local people who have inherited the memories of their ancestors and still cherish the memory of the Former Yan, so as to gain their acceptance of his rule.

They then repaired and maintained the traces left by the Former Yan dynasty.

In addition, with the country newly established and a fresh atmosphere prevailing,
This certainly piqued the curiosity of Zhang Jiao, who was used to the grandeur of the Han Dynasty.

"Let's talk about it when we see it."

Upon hearing his brother's words, Zhang Jiao shook his head and led his horse toward the house ahead, hoping to obtain some information about the journey ahead.

If the host family is kind and gentle
They might not need to look for a place to spend the night tonight.

He knocked on the door, and soon a boy of about ten years old peeked out from inside.

He looked warily at the strangers outside. "Who are you?"

“They are Taoist priests from the Way of Peace,” Zhang Jiao replied.

The boy looked them over and, seeing that they looked like typical Taoist priests, relaxed a little.

What are you doing at my house?

"As the sun began to set, I decided to stay here for the night."

The boy was displeased and immediately closed the door, which he had opened a crack in. "My family doesn't have any extra rooms for you to live in!"

"You can pay!"

Zhang Jiao quickly added that he was not a monk who took advantage of his status as a monk to take advantage of others or beg for alms everywhere.

"how much is it?"

The boy opened the door a little wider and stared at the pocket at Zhang Jiao's waist from inside.

Zhang Jiao dismissed it as childish naiveté, pointing to himself, Zhang Liang, several disciples, and horses, and asked about the usual expenses for lodging in a place.

But the boy said, "I want some more!"

He reached his hand out from under the door and gestured, "At least this much!"

Zhang Liang was amused by his words, "Why are you so greedy for money at such a young age?"

They had never stayed in such an expensive "homestay" on their entire journey.

The quick-witted and sharp-eyed boy then explained confidently:
“There are many of you, and you are outsiders. Even if you are Taoist priests, no one would dare to take you in if you were not from my family.”

Hejian County is not far from the border.

Occasionally, Xianbei people would cross the Great Wall to harass this area.
As the world gradually descended into chaos, local bandits and thieves became increasingly rampant.

In a small family, who would dare to take in a group of people of unknown origin?

The other party claimed to be a Taoist priest and dressed like one. Does that mean he is truly a Taoist master?
This is why Zhang Jiao chose this particular household—

This family's residence was the largest in the local village, with high walls, clearly indicating that they were local small landlords.

The other party has the confidence and the ability to accommodate them overnight.

Simultaneously,

Communicating with the local strongmen beforehand, showing your face, and demonstrating your goodwill will help soothe the emotions of the local people and prevent them from having additional worries after learning about a group of outsiders.

"Besides, if you stay overnight and eat at my place, shouldn't you be charged more?"

Zhang Liang wanted to say that he had brought food, and all he was missing was a comfortable place to land.

Zhang Jiao stopped him directly, saying, "Money is nothing but an external thing."

"We've been traveling for so long, enduring wind and rain, and are all exhausted."

"If I could lie down on a comfortable soft mat, I wouldn't mind spending a little more money."

He took out the money the boy needed from his pocket and paid the room fee.

The boy then opened the door completely to let them in.

As soon as Zhang Jiao entered, he saw several servants holding sticks and seven or eight large yellow dogs baring their teeth standing behind the boy.

Obviously,

The boy was still very cautious about strangers knocking on his door asking for lodging.

In other words, money convinced him that the person willing to hand over the money was not a vicious person.

Seeing this, Zhang Jiao laughed and said, "You're really quick-witted."

The boy proudly raised his head. "Of course!"

"I am the great-great-grandson of Emperor Xiaozhang, the great-grandson of King Xiao of Hejian, and the dignified Marquis of Jiedu of the Great Han Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)