Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 1072 It Must Be the White Lotus's doing
The question of “how much damage” is itself quite delicate.

The capable people in the imperial court were truly capable; they were able to discuss the damage even though the mausoleum had already been blown up.

They even quoted classical texts and discussed it in a very serious manner.

The official stepped forward and said with certainty, "Your Majesty is blessed with boundless fortune and is protected by Heaven. In my humble opinion, the mausoleum of Emperor Gaozu must not have been seriously damaged. Perhaps only the earthen mound has been slightly loosened and the palace buildings have been slightly dilapidated. We only need to send craftsmen to repair it properly, and it can be restored to its former appearance."

The minister immediately chimed in, "Indeed! Mangshan is an auspicious burial site chosen by emperors of all dynasties. Its feng shui is excellent, with dragon energy swirling around it, and it naturally possesses supernatural power. It is likely that... it will be able to turn misfortune into good fortune and minimize the damage."

The officials from the Water Conservancy Bureau also stepped forward with a heavy heart and reported: "The yellowish-brown poisonous water that permeated the mountains is gradually dissipating, and the surging strange water in the earth's veins has also receded and disappeared. In about ten days, we should be able to organize a team to go into the mountains to investigate. However... the terrain in the mountains may have changed drastically, and at that time we may need the assistance of master craftsmen from the Construction Bureau who are proficient in civil engineering to ensure the smooth progress of the investigation."

In the imperial court, everyone was trying their best to downplay the shocking event of "the imperial tomb flying to the heavens," making it a large-scale reality show of officialdom.

The next important task was to find a way to make amends for the ruler and father.

The matter of the Gaoyuan Mausoleum must be given to the world in a seemingly reasonable manner.

"Unfilial piety"...

These two words were like invisible shackles, weighing heavily on everyone's heart, especially on the emperor who "claimed illness" on the dragon throne.

But what if... it's not because I'm unfilial?

Just as everyone was whispering and discussing, but no one dared to break the silence, an official stepped forward with his head held high and a loud voice interrupted everyone's discussion.

"Your Majesty's virtue is as lofty as a mountain to be revered, and as immeasurable as the ocean!"

His opening remarks were filled with the most ornate and flowery language, elevating the Jin emperor to an unprecedented level.

"Since ascending the throne, he has worked tirelessly day and night, revering Heaven and honoring his ancestors, diligently governing the country and loving the people. He governs the world with benevolence and brings peace to the nation with propriety. His filial piety is a testament to the great trust placed in him by the ancestral temple and serves as a model for his descendants. He is truly a man who moves Heaven and Earth!"

The tone suddenly shifted, becoming impassioned and passionate:
"However, when calamities or blessings descend from the heavens, there must be omens; when people encounter good or bad fortune, there must be a reason. Your Majesty's sudden misfortune, which seems to be retribution, is by no means the will of Heaven, nor is it due to any deficiency in Your Majesty's virtue! It must be that there are treacherous and wicked people who harbor ulterior motives, are jealous of Your Majesty's wisdom and benevolence, and have secretly acted by fabricating rumors and slander to attack Your Majesty's holy body, attempting to shake the foundation of the country. Their intentions are deserving of punishment!"

This statement was truly earth-shattering!
The officials were initially taken aback, then their expressions varied.

Many people thought to themselves: What a fine General of the Left Guard! What a loyal and capable general!
You don't care about your reputation and just like to flatter the emperor, fine, but how can you... how can you lie so blatantly?
What kind of "insight" could ignore the numerous omens such as Mars guarding the heart of the sky, appearing day and night, the Huai River flooding, and even the current bombing of the imperial tombs, and forcefully see "earth-shattering" filial piety in His Majesty?

Of course, it's because he has something to hide, and someone has a firm grip on him!

Just as the nation was in turmoil and people were filled with anxiety, the Left Guard General's experience last night was truly unbearable to recall.

He was dragged naked from the bed of a "friend" by Jia Chong, who personally led his troops, and was given leverage that could ruin his reputation or even cost him his head.

Under duress and enticement, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree to be the "first to stick his neck out" at today's court assembly.

Otherwise, why would someone make such a shameless act of flattery in such a solemn occasion?
However, what surprised the courtiers even more was that after completing the task of calling a deer a horse, this scoundrel did not stop his performance. Instead, he actually came up with a "solution" in a very serious manner.

"My colleagues."

"I have heard that the White Lotus Sect has recently been committing numerous illegal and unlawful acts in several counties west of Luoyang, and their movements are shrouded in mystery..."

"In my humble opinion, the incident at Mangshan was perhaps... no, it must have been the work of that White Lotus Sect fiend!"

"Otherwise, how can we explain the complete lack of reaction from these lawless traitors after the incident?!"

"This is completely different from their previous style of creating trouble and then jumping out to boast about their 'vacuum homeland' with an arrogant attitude!"

"Such silence is precisely proof of a guilty conscience!"

At first, the man's face showed some unease, but as he spoke, a sense of certainty, as if he were truly convinced that the White Lotus Sect was responsible.

The White Lotus Sect is also in a bad situation; to acknowledge it is to be without a ruler or father, while not acknowledging it is to have a guilty conscience.

Of course, in recent years, it is actually the right thing to claim responsibility, because it is not unfair to wrong people.

These words were like lighting a lamp in a dark room.

From the highest officials to the lowest-ranking green-robed officials standing at the corner of the palace, they were all taken aback at first, then suddenly realized... wait a minute? It doesn't seem like it's not a bad idea after all?

The White Lotus Sect is a heretical sect with eccentric behavior. It has motives, abilities, and a bad reputation, making it the perfect scapegoat for this huge accusation!

Thus, the once deathly silent court instantly came alive.

Immediately, an official stepped forward and loudly praised the Left Guard General for his exceptional wit and keen insight, which allowed him to see through the crux of the matter and pinpoint the core of the problem!
"It must be the White Lotus Sect causing trouble!"

"That's right! They must have poisoned the water source in the north and used evil magic to ruin the feng shui of the mausoleum!"

"This sect is a major threat to our dynasty, the greatest malignant tumor, and should be eradicated!"

For a time, public sentiment was "outraged," and all the criticisms and accusations seemed to have found a reasonable outlet.

As for the truth... that's not important. What's important is that everyone can finally climb out of the quagmire of "filial impiety" for the time being.

However, some officials still wore a hint of undisguised embarrassment on their faces.

In the past, the White Lotus Sect would take the initiative to claim various troublesome matters among the people, and the court officials would occasionally throw some difficult problems at them in private. Although the two sides did not say it outright, they had a strange tacit understanding.

But this time, it was the imperial court, the official body, that took the initiative to pin such a momentous event on the other side.

The methods were so blatant, and the way they were behaving was rather unseemly and somewhat improper.

But on second thought, at this moment, "man-made disaster" is better than "natural disaster" or "ancestral wrath".

Blaming the cult for this way can at least salvage some of their crumbling dignity.

The veteran official Fu Tianchou stood in the ranks, his mouth twitching a few times, but ultimately he did not stand up to voice his opposition at this moment.

What was needed at this moment was a "consensus" that could temporarily stabilize the situation for the court. For the sake of this so-called "overall situation," they could only swallow their dissent and frustration, their faces turning ashen as they sulked.

So, only one crucial question remains.

How can we downplay this controversy, divert public attention, and shift the direction of public opinion?
"Didn't Zheng Lian, the prefect of Xingyang, submit a memorial a few days ago, saying that he wanted to present 'auspicious omens of King Yu' to celebrate peace?"

A voice murmured from the crowd, its tone carrying an inexplicable strangeness. "Tell him... to hurry up and get it done."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood immediately.

Now, auspicious omens are urgently needed to dispel the bad luck brought by the calamities.

As long as Prefect Zheng does a decent job of presenting auspicious omens, even if it's just a little more presentable and not a sham, the entire court will readily approve and publicize it.

In the following time, the court assembly proceeded in an eerie atmosphere, dealing with all sorts of trivial and absurd matters arising from the Mangshan incident.

Everyone knows that the impact of this incident goes far beyond this.

For example, those princes who have been holding back all along.

The successive "omens" were no longer considered hints by them, but rather clear "instructions" from Heaven and Emperor Gaozu!
His Majesty is surely a foolish ruler unappreciated by Heaven! He is also an unfilial descendant of the founding emperor!

Otherwise, how could there be these successive and increasingly terrifying upheavals?
It is fitting that...

In any case, the royal princes of Chu, Zhao, and Huainan are no longer just jumping around and making empty accusations; they have actually taken some real actions behind the scenes.

Standing on the moral high ground of "filial piety," one can naturally do whatever one pleases and feel great no matter how one acts.

He recruited retainers, gathered talents from all sides, and even began to try to intervene in the mobilization of some troops. Various literary and poetry gatherings under the name of "commemorating the achievements and virtues of ancestors" were held incessantly, creating a great deal of momentum.

Without seeing the specific details, just looking at the bustling scene, an uninformed person might think they were celebrating some grand event, rather than that their ancestral graves had just been blown up.

As a result, speculators both in and out of government became even more active.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see the undercurrents in the court at this moment, and even more so, the current emperor's predicament and weakness.

How could we miss such a golden opportunity?
For example... the "God of War of the North" inexplicably gained several sycophantic figures with ambiguous identities and eloquent speech.

Some time ago, he was specially "taken away" to Luoyang to test whether he was truly the "descent of the Black Bird." The Prince Liang, who was burdened with the destiny of heaven, successfully dissuaded all those who had ulterior motives or intended to invest by using his pure and unadulterated incompetence.

That performance couldn't have been acted.

That composure in the face of complex situations, that bewilderment when listening to confidential information, that purity of emotional changes... it was simply natural.

They'll step into any trap without hesitation, and might even roll around in it, having a great time.

As a result, the Prince of Liang was able to leave the mansion where he was being examined unharmed because he was "harmless to humans and animals," reunited with his mother, and even obtained the qualification to stay in Luoyang for "study" due to his "special performance".

His father, the Prince of Liang, is still "repenting" in Jinyong City, the northwest corner of Luoyang, a city used to imprison members of the royal family.

This person's performance truly lives up to the name Sima; his cunning is unfathomable, and he has not revealed any obvious flaws or resentment to this day, his silence arousing vigilance.

Both the Prince of Liang and his son were kept under surveillance in Luoyang, which was a standard practice of the imperial court in controlling vassal kings, and was therefore understandable.

But after the earth-shattering explosion at Gaoyuanling, the situation became somewhat delicate.

Immediately, some "clever" people began to draw far-fetched connections, privately discussing: "Wasn't King Wen of Zhou imprisoned in Youli for seven years by King Zhou of Shang? After his release, he worked diligently to govern the country, eventually launching a military campaign to overthrow King Zhou and laying the foundation for the Zhou Dynasty's eight-hundred-year reign. It's clear that King Liang's current forbearance is not without reason!"

Following this logic, their gazes towards that good-for-nothing prince changed: "Then, perhaps Prince Liang is not as incompetent as the son of King Zhou of Shang, but rather a true 'Zhou Zi' like King Wu of Zhou! He is wise in appearance but foolish in reality; this is a strategy of concealing his abilities and biding his time!"

As a result, a few ignorant and incompetent opportunists, eager to curry favor with the emperor, cautiously gathered around Prince Liang, intending to do some work for this "destined" prince, investing in him in advance to secure a bright future.

When the news reached Jinyong City, King Liang almost coughed up blood on the spot.

He felt that he was probably even more miserable than the current emperor.

It's bad enough that my son is as stupid as a pig, but now someone is even trying to use this to "persecute" him! What's the point of all this?
He was filled with even greater fear: What if His Majesty was so enraged by these rumors that he became paranoid and insisted on tasting his son's flesh, just like King Zhou of Shang did to King Wen?

This unexpected disaster is absolutely deadly!

Meanwhile, around Luoyang, there was another official whose emotions were equally complex: Zheng Lian, the prefect of Xingyang, who had just received the "Yu the Great's Axe."

Offering this stone axe as an "auspicious omen" is truly absurd.

Even if it were a jade axe, one could still concoct a story about it being a "heaven-sent treasure that could suppress floods and bring peace to the country." But this rough and ancient stone axe... is really difficult to explain and hard to believe.

Of course, what was even more difficult to deal with than the stone axe was his own mood.

When he learned that a yellowish-brown toxic water had appeared in Mangshan, destroying countless ancestral graves and even the Gaoyuan Mausoleum, his heart was more devastated than if his own ancestral grave had been blown up!

An absurd and terrifying thought popped into my head uncontrollably:

Could it be that... after all that trouble in Xingyang, the Great Compassionate Dharma King has ultimately diverted the calamity from our land to Mangshan, northwest of Luoyang?!
Our White Lotus Sect... actually did something so earth-shattering without a word?!

Zheng Lian's mind was in turmoil, and cold sweat soaked through the back of his official robes.

What am I going to do? I've only just boarded the White Lotus Sect's ship! How did I end up in this catastrophe that could wipe out my entire family?! Now there's really no way to get off!
Forced to calm himself down, he immediately decided to secretly summon several trusted confidants who knew the inside story for a talk, partly to unify their statements and partly to resolve any potential problems.

At the same time, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and begin preparing a memorial to present the "auspicious omen".

The imperial court has already begun to urge them, and from many different aspects at that; it seems the situation is quite serious.

What kind of mess is this?!

This is clearly a catastrophe, yet they present it as an auspicious omen! The Great Jin Dynasty is doomed!

Alas... In short, the world is in chaos right now, with danger lurking everywhere.

Inside and outside Luoyang, from the imperial court to the common people, countless people were agitated, scheming, and fearful because of the Mangshan Incident. Some wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to rise to the top, while others feared being crushed to pieces by this monstrous wave.

Meanwhile, Xu Xuan, the "culprit" who single-handedly caused this huge chaos, is currently enjoying rare "care" in the small town of Daguguan, hundreds of miles away.

Compared to the harsh winds and frosts outside, an eerie tranquility and peace permeated this small courtyard.

(End of this chapter)