Jinting Han people

As expected, heavy rain fell in the Jiangnan region in the following days.

The heavy rain came very quietly. At first, it was no different from the spring rain of the past two months, the raindrops falling like silk threads, drizzling gently, like the tender and lingering affection between lovers.

But as time went on, the rain intensified instead of decreasing, growing heavier day by day. By the fourth day, the raindrops were falling in strings, pattering against the ground and causing muddy water to flow everywhere. The river's water level rose accordingly, quickly reaching a significant point. While not yet dangerous, it was clearly much higher than last year's level. It wasn't even May yet, and if a few more rains like this came, a flood would be a certainty.

Upon seeing this, the people of Yi'an began to speculate, saying that it might be due to the lingering resentment of the many ghosts of the Jin soldiers who died in Yi'an last year. Therefore, many suspected a flood this year and began planning to relocate. Relocation at this time of year would not only affect the year's farming but also the public opinion and stability of the new dynasty preparing to establish its capital there. Therefore, Liu Xian had to take this matter seriously.

Some time ago, following Lu Yun's advice, he inspected the dike. There were indeed some damaged areas, though not obvious. However, the water level this year was significantly higher than in previous years, making repairs imperative.

Therefore, Liu Xian agreed to Lu Yun's request to temporarily refrain from dismissing the laborers and to put aside the construction of the Imperial Academy for the time being. He then mobilized all manpower and resources within the Jingxiang region to focus on repairing the dike in the Gong'an section.

The specific method involved transporting sturdy and suitable cypress stakes from various places, arranging them layer by layer and driving them into the ground, then compacting them with fertile soil and stones. This expanded the original five-mile-long Jingjiang dike to fifteen miles, extending all the way to Donghu Lake east of Yi'an.

Of course, this was not enough to guarantee safety. Lu Yun suggested to Liu Xian that if an unpredictable situation were to occur, the people of Huarong County on the north bank downstream could be evacuated in advance, and then the floodwaters could be diverted there. After discussion, Liu Xian agreed to this plan.

These measures were clearly insufficient to appease the restless populace. Liu Xian needed to perform some public sacrifices to convince people that he could reverse the will of Heaven. So, after the rain stopped, Liu Xian led a group of close attendants to the Guan Yu Temple near the old city of Gong'an to perform the sacrifices.

This Guan Yu temple was built spontaneously by the local people and has a significant influence in the area. After all, Guan Yu was known for his benevolent deeds during his lifetime, his northern expedition against Cao Wei, and his famous flooding of the seven armies; he was a great hero in the hearts of the people of Jingchu. Even in his later defeat and death, he died with a heroic spirit, inspiring admiration. Moreover, a plague broke out after his death, causing the deaths of Lü Meng and others. The local people then interpreted this as Guan Yu coming from the underworld to claim their lives, and thus, they deeply revered his divine power, building the temple here to worship him. It is said to be very efficacious.

Now that Liu Xian has led his men back to Yi'an and achieved a great victory over the Jin army, a rumor has spread among the people. They say that Guan Yu became a god after his death and is protecting the King of Han from the heavens. They say that the King of Han's ability to return to his homeland and continue the Han dynasty is all because Guan Yu severed the Jin court's fate. The rumor spread wider and wider, resulting in even more flourishing incense offerings at the site.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liu Xian renovated Guan Yu's ancestral hall and simply bestowed upon Guan Yu the title of king, then held a public ceremony to worship him. Although this actually violated the Han dynasty's system of not granting kingships to those not of the Liu clan, everyone knew that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were like brothers, their bond as strong as father and son, so it was reasonable. Moreover, the Guan clan had long been exterminated by Pang Hui, and even if he were granted a kingship, there would be no one to inherit the title. Therefore, Liu Xian issued an edict posthumously conferring upon Guan Yu the title of King of Chu, Grand General, and Grand Master of the Three Excellencies, changing his posthumous title to Zhongwu (忠武). Afterwards, Fan Ben, in the name of overseeing Heaven, recommended Guan Yu to the Heavenly Emperor to be the Supreme Grand General of the Mighty Spirit, hoping that he would subdue demons and protect the people.

The imperial decree ceremony lasted for three days. On the first day, the King of Han and all the officials participated, and on the second day, Fan Ben, the Chamberlain, presided over the recitation of scriptures. However, the other officials had their own urgent matters to attend to and dispersed after the first day, leaving only the King of Han and many newly appointed officials to continue attending.

Most of the officials present were newly arrived scholars from the north. Some were old acquaintances of Liu Xian, such as Jiang Tong, Yue Daorong, Du Xi, and Ruan Fu, while others were names Liu Xian had heard of, such as Cheng Gongjian, Zao Song, Cai Mo, Zhuge Hui, Yan Han, and Zhou Song. Their legs were numb from sitting so long among the temple buildings, but they dared not show any unease. They waited until the sacrificial ceremony was completed, which happened to be the third day at noon. Liu Xian then hosted a banquet for these new officials by the river, a way of fostering camaraderie.

Jiang Tong, having been Liu Xian's colleague in the past, was seated beside Liu Xian. He gazed at the statue of Guan Yu in the temple, then at the Prince of Han beside him, seemingly deeply moved. Liu Xian smiled and asked, "What is it, Yingyuan? Do you have something to say?"

Jiang Tong cupped his hands and sighed, "Your Highness, I was thinking about the principles of the world."

"The principles of the world?"

"I once visited the Guan Yu Temple in Luoyang, where there were only a few wandering knights who went there to worship, and there was not much incense burning. I never expected it to be so prosperous here. I also thought of working with His Highness back then. Even though the real dragon was right beside me, I was blind and followed the wrong King of Chengdu. I wonder how the principles of the world evolve, and why there are such great changes at different times and in different places."

There is indeed a Guan Yu Temple in Luoyang. After Guan Yu was killed by Ma Zhong, Sun Quan sent his head to Cao Cao. Cao Cao, who had always admired Guan Yu, was deeply saddened upon seeing Guan Yu's head. He had a wooden body made for him, sewn the head back on, and buried him with the rites due to a feudal lord in the south of the city. He also built a temple to worship him, which became quite famous in Luoyang. However, to avoid suspicion, the Anle Gong family, although they lived in Luoyang for decades, never visited the Guan Yu Temple.

Liu Xian was deeply moved upon hearing this. In his early years, he had also pondered these questions. Why does fate play such cruel tricks on people? Is it intentional or unintentional? Can it truly be sensed by humans? Of course, he could not find any answers. He could only force himself to keep living, relying on an inextinguishable anger, or rather, resentment towards the world, and an unyielding determination, either waiting or striving, until this day of suffering finally came.

Now, Liu Xian is a tolerant and peaceful person, showing neither the sharp edge of his youth nor the sinister depth of his past. He no longer ponders these questions; instead, it's the turn of Jiang Tong and his ilk, who were once riding high, to think about them.

Therefore, Liu Xian said to Jiang Tong: "Just do things with a clear conscience. How can the rights and wrongs of the world be explained so clearly? It is better not to talk nonsense and just act in accordance with the times."

Unexpectedly, Zhou Song, who was standing nearby, heard this. He was Zhou Yi's third brother and was well-versed in Buddhism. He put his hands together and said, "Excellent! Your Highness has already seen through the true meaning of the impermanence of all things and the creation of the mind. You are not far from Buddhahood."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Hui, Yan Han, and the others immediately laughed and said, "Zhou Zhongzhi has come to preach again!"

Zhou Song glanced at them and said, "Buddhism is the most extensive field of knowledge in the world, encompassing everything. What's wrong with discussing it a little?"

Zhuge Hui, grandson of Zhuge Dan, was fond of metaphysics and disliked Buddhism. He immediately rebuked him, saying, "You speak so lightly. Can Buddhism govern a country?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present pricked up their ears to listen. Clearly, the two had begun a philosophical debate, a trend that had developed over the decades, and Liu Xian couldn't very well stop them.

Zhuge Hui's question is indeed a classic one: Buddhism is a study of self-cultivation, and it cannot be used to govern a country, so what's the use of discussing it? It is far inferior to Confucianism and Taoism, both of which have the knowledge of governing the world.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Song replied, "Of course it can be used to govern a country. Buddhism is also the teaching of sages; Confucianism and Buddhism are fundamentally one." This statement was quite unusual. Before Zhuge Hui could ask any questions, Ruan Fu, who was standing nearby, asked, "How can you say that?"

Zhou Song said, “Have you not read the Analects? Zigong said, ‘The Master’s writings can be heard, but his words on human nature and the Way of Heaven cannot be heard.’ Therefore, the sage knew about Buddha-nature, but because it was difficult for ordinary people to understand, he did not transmit it. Since the World-Honored One knew that the Master transmitted the teachings of Confucianism, he explained the Buddha’s teachings to all beings. There is no contradiction.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd first exchanged bewildered glances, then erupted in applause. Zhou Song's rebuttal was indeed ingenious. Zhuge Hui attacked Buddhism for being unable to govern the world, while Zhou Song attacked Confucianism for being unable to cultivate the mind, and then used the original text of the Analects to reconcile the two.

But Zhuge Hui immediately retorted, "Isn't this absurd? Confucius advocated self-discipline and restoring propriety, while Buddhism advocates understanding one's own mind and seeing one's true nature. Aren't these contradictory? How can they be conflated?"

Having said that, he saw Zhou Song close his eyes and remain silent, and laughed, "What? Have you run out of things to say?"

Zhou Song opened his eyes and said, "It's just that your remarks are not worth refuting."

"Oh? Then tell us what you think?" Le Daorong chimed in from the side.

Zhou Song said, “Guo Zixuan once said, ‘Benevolence and righteousness are human nature, and we should simply follow them.’ Mencius also said, ‘The heart of compassion is inherent in all people.’ The so-called self-discipline and restoration of propriety is actually about eliminating worries, seeing through impermanence, and rejecting temptations. Naturally, one will understand one’s true nature. How can one go against the right path?”

"You mean human nature is inherently good?"

"Buddha-nature is neither good nor evil."

"..."

As they talked, the two gradually veered from their initial debate on Confucianism and Buddhism to discussions of human nature. The surrounding scholars frequently chimed in, making the atmosphere unusually lively. Gradually, no one ate, and even no one paid attention to the King of Han anymore.

Liu Xian, listening from the side, found it utterly boring. When he was still a minor, he and young Ruan Gong had engaged in philosophical discussions with other renowned scholars, but those were distant memories, and Liu Xian had no interest in them. The restoration of the kingdom was less than halfway complete; what benefit would discussing such topics bring to the country? He'd rather have debated with Lu Ji back then—at least that was proper political discourse.

Looking back on the Jin army's various clumsy performances on the battlefield over the years, he couldn't help but feel a bit disdainful. The reason why the Jin court had collapsed to this day was certainly due to the infighting among the Sima princes, but wasn't it also due to the empty talk and neglect of practical matters by officials and scholars?
However, Liu Xian couldn't really lash out, after all, it was just idle talk. Although Ruan Ji and Ji Kang used it to satirize the court, it had long lost its political significance and was now simply a way to pass the time. What was wrong with that? Besides, governing a country still required scholars and intellectuals. Their idle talk was better than stirring up trouble and fighting for power.

However, Jiang Tong understood Liu Xian. Seeing everyone talking about metaphysics as if no one else was around, he quietly observed Liu Xian's expression. Seeing that Liu Xian's expression was inscrutable, he whispered and changed the subject, "Your Highness, when do you plan to officially establish the capital?"

Liu Xian was taken aback by this, but quickly changed his tone and replied, "Let's wait until after the autumn when we send troops to take Yangzhou and Huainan. What, Ying Yuan, do you have something to say?"

Jiang Tong shook his head and laughed, "No, it's just that I haven't seen Lu Zidao for a long time. Back in Ye City, we often talked about the Book of Han and the Records of the Three Kingdoms, and we learned a lot. I heard that he is still the governor of Yizhou. I wonder when I will see him again."

Liu Xian suddenly realized, and then said, "Then there's no need to wait until the capital is established. Last time he submitted a memorial, everything in Yizhou was arranged, and he's already preparing to board the ship. He'll probably arrive in Yi'an by the end of this month."

Speaking of this topic, Liu Xian also felt a pang of nostalgia for Lu Zhi. At this time last year, Lu Zhi was helping him implement new policies. He and Lu Zhi often talked late into the night by candlelight, discussing the principles of governing the country and bringing peace to the world. Lu Zhi's concise and insightful points were very inspiring, and the two would complement each other, going on for hours without feeling like there was nothing that couldn't be solved.

But now that he's in Yi'an and has to handle government affairs himself, he's feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Even though He Pan is highly respected, Lu Yun is skilled in civil administration, and Li Feng is adept at military affairs, none of them can offer advice from a holistic perspective. It seems that once Lu Zhi arrives, he'll have to discuss the major policies of governance with him again.

Thinking that his wife, children, and family, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, had come with Lu Zhi, Liu Xian's mood improved even more. During this time, while he was stabilizing things in Jingxiang, A Luo also wrote to tell him good news: both A Die and she had given birth smoothly. A Die gave birth earlier, as twins, a boy and a girl. The boy came first, the older brother, nicknamed Chezi, and named Liu Fen. The girl was born later, nicknamed Yingtao, and named Liu Aiqin. A Luo gave birth to a boy, nicknamed Shinu, and named Liu Xun.

At this time, Liu Cheng, the heir apparent of Han, was already four years old. Logically, it would be time to find him a tutor. Thinking of this, Liu Xian turned to Jiang Tong with a smile and asked, "Yingyuan, are you interested in going to serve in the Eastern Palace again?"

Jiang Tong was taken aback, unsure of the King of Han's meaning, especially since the Eastern Palace in Yi'an hadn't even been built yet. However, Liu Xian had already made up his mind. Jiang Tong was a man of exceptional talent and learning, having served as both the Crown Prince's tutor in the Jin court and a professor at the Imperial Academy; he was a leading scholar of Confucian classics in his time. Even more remarkable was that he hadn't succumbed to the trend of metaphysical discussions and dared to speak frankly. As Liu Cheng's teacher, he was the most suitable person to be him.

Liu Xian thought it over and over and felt it was appropriate. He thought to himself: "Hmm, that's it. Once A'Luo and the others move into the palace, I will appoint Jiang Tong as the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince and concurrently as the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. He will be in charge of all affairs of the Eastern Palace and will be responsible for the education of the children!" So he immediately prepared to issue an imperial edict to Jiang Tong.

Jiang Tong originally had no such intention. After all, he had a very good relationship with Sima Yu when he served as the Crown Prince's tutor. However, he was deeply saddened to witness the Crown Prince's deposition and execution and did not want to hold a similar position again. But the Prince of Han was adamant and made repeated requests to Jiang Tong. Unable to refuse, Jiang Tong had no choice but to agree again.

This day was the Xin Si day of the fourth month of the fourth year of the Qiming era of the Han Dynasty. On the same day, after three months of bitter fighting, Qi and Han finally captured Xuchang.

(Map of the situation in April of the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Qiming of Han) (End of this chapter)