History can't bear to look at the complete collection

Chapter 61
Xu Fu is the number one contributor to Japan's prosperity
In the 28th year of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor sent Xu Fu to sail to Penglai Xiandao to seek the elixir of immortality for him.But what Qin Shihuang didn't expect was that Xu Fu never came back, and there was no news, so he couldn't find out the truth about whether there was any elixir in this world until his death.

Xu Fu was born in a poor family and was an alchemist in the Qi State during the Warring States Period. He knew some alchemy, medicine, astrology, and navigation.In particular, the navigation skills are the most exquisite, because Qi is close to the sea and the navigation technology is very developed, so Xu Fu's navigation technology is considered to be the best among alchemists in other countries.

Sima Qian wrote in "Historical Records": "The alchemists of Yan and Qi on the sea cannot pass on their skills..." The alchemists of Yan and Qi monopolized all the navigation technology, so that Qin Shihuang could only find them for sailing activities. It was precisely because of this that Xu Fu had a chance.

According to historical records, when Qin Shihuang visited Langya Mountain for the first time, Xu Fu went to see him. He told Qin Shihuang that there were three sacred mountains overseas, namely "Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou", and gods lived on these three mountains. , if you can find them, you can get the elixir of immortality.

This remark hit Qin Shihuang's heart, and he wanted to live forever, so he sent Xu Fu to find the three sacred mountains for him, so Xu Fu took thousands of boys and girls on a long voyage to the sea.Xu Fu also has a certain basis for saying that he is going to look for the sacred mountain. In "Historical Records?"Book of Fengchan" said: "There are eight famous mountains in the world, five are in China, and three are barbarians." Therefore, Qin Shihuang trusted his words.

But after Xu Fu left, there was no news. It was not until the 37th year of Qin Shihuang (210 BC) that he came back empty-handed. Facing the furious Qin Shihuang, Xu Fu said that he had arrived in Penglai, but the gods disliked the fact that Qin Shihuang brought too few gifts. , refused to give medicine, Qin Shihuang gave Xu Fu three thousand boys and girls, as well as seeds of five grains, and hundreds of skilled craftsmen proficient in various skills.So Xu Fu went to sea again, this time Xu Fu never came back.

Qin Shihuang, who could not get the elixir of immortality, died of illness in July of the same year, but Xu Fu was not really looking for medicine for Qin Shihuang, as recorded in the annals, but an adventurous action to expand Qin Shihuang's territory. There are three reasons.

First, Qin Shihuang did not believe in ghosts and gods. In the inscription erected in Langya, Qin Shihuang wrote that he wanted to expand his territory, but he did not believe in ghosts and gods. Therefore, praying for immortality should be invented by later generations .

Second, the so-called three sacred mountains are actually Jeju Island in the South China Sea today, Taiwan in China, and Japan.At that time, it was considered a sacred mountain, but because of limited geographical knowledge.

Third, Xu Fu has been away for many years, and the people and things he took away have not been found. Qin Shihuang did not blame him, and brought him more people and things for the second time. It can be seen that Qin Shihuang was not just looking for medicine. Simple.From these three points, it can be seen that Xu Fu's sea search for medicine was just a cover. In fact, his real purpose was to open up the sea under the order of Qin Shihuang, which was a large-scale expedition.

But as for where Xu Fu went after he went to sea, and where those boys and girls were placed, it is not explained in "The Chronicle of Qin Shihuang", but in "Historical Records?In Huainan Hengshan Biographies, it is written: "Xu Fu got Pingyuan Guangze, and the King Zhi did not come." There are different versions of this so-called Pingyuan Guangze in history, but through the layers of historical fog, we can get You know, this place is Japan today.

During the period of China's war results, the Sea of ​​Japan was in the Jomon culture of the Neolithic Age and was in the period of primitive clan society. However, in the middle of the Qin Dynasty, Japan began to have bronze and iron production tools and began agricultural production. , especially some agricultural production technologies such as rice, suddenly appeared without warning, which has to make people suspicious.

In a very short period of time, Japan has completed a large cultural span. This rapid development is not excessive, it is very sudden.Also, this period of time coincided with the time when Xu Fu went to sea, which made people suspect that it was precisely because Xu Fu crossed the east and arrived in Japan that the wild island leaped into a civilized society.

Moreover, some cultural relics from the Qin Dynasty were also found in Japan, and no less than 50 Xu Fu relics were found.From this, it can be basically determined that Xu Fu arrived in Japan. Xu Fu traveled to Japan and developed Japan from a wild land into a civilized society. This was probably unexpected by Qin Shihuang at that time.

(End of this chapter)