Chapter One Past Events

  In the first year of Chongren in the Great Song Dynasty, on the second day of July at night, during the first watch, the streets of Dongjing Bianliang City gradually became deserted. However, inside the study room of the Tai Shi Mansion, the lights were still shining brightly. Chancellor Cai Jing was staring blankly at a large box of pastries on his desk, wondering what intention his daughter had in sending these pastries from the palace so late at night.

  Really couldn't think of it, Mrs. Cai spread out the dim sum on the desk and crushed them one by one...

  Suddenly, a small paper scroll was found in a piece of pastry. Upon opening it, the words "Empress Yao is pregnant, please eliminate her quickly" were written on it. Cai Jing hastily burned the note with a candle, sighing: "This precious daughter really worries me."

  On the fifth watch of the night of the fifth day of the fifth month, Emperor Huizong sat on his throne in the Golden Hall, receiving congratulations from all officials.

  "When the official in charge of the hall shouted: 'If there is something to report, come out early and make a report; if there is nothing, roll up the curtains and withdraw from court.'"

  Only the leader of the left column, Grand Preceptor Cai Jing, stepped out and memorialized: "Your Majesty, in the past when Emperor Taizu had not yet obtained the world, he once passed through Mount Hua in Shaanxi and received guidance from the old immortal Chen Tuan. He achieved the Supreme Golden Elixir and also received a gift of a martial silk ribbon from the old immortal. From then on, with one stroke of his eyebrow, he was invincible throughout the land, known as the Martial God. Before Emperor Taizu left Mount Hua, the old immortal Chen Tuan had predicted that Emperor Taizu could establish a dynasty that would last for 300 years and 18 emperors, but halfway through, there would be a great calamity. At that time, the descendants of the Song imperial family with predestined bloodline can go to Mount Hua, where the old immortal Chen Tuan will help the Zhao imperial clan resolve their calamities. Now, counting from Emperor Taizu's time, it has been 140 years, and this year Your Majesty has just changed the reign title to Chongren, it is time to find the old immortal Chen Tuan."

  Huizong Tianzi heard this and thought it was very strange. He asked: "Do all of you know about this matter?"

  Only then did Qi Tianjian, a horseman from the ranks, step forward and report: "This is true. It must be done at once."

  "What is meant by pre-heavenly blood vessels?"

  Cai Jing nodded: "Your Majesty, a child is considered postnatal as soon as it is born, and prenatal while still in the womb. Your Majesty needs to send a pregnant concubine to Huashan to offer incense and fulfill her vow. At that time, Chen Tuan, the old immortal, will naturally help our dynasty resolve its worries."

  The Emperor smiled and looked at Cai Jing: "Your family knows a lot, which concubine can be sent?"

  Cai Jing's heart skipped a beat, and he forced himself to remain calm, saying: "Princess Yao can go."

  The Emperor ordered the Hanlin scholar to issue an edict, which was personally written by the Emperor himself and accompanied by three sticks of incense. The eunuch Chen Ping, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, was appointed as the imperial envoy to accompany Empress Yao to Mount Hua in western China to fulfill a vow; and also to invite the old immortal Chen Tuan to perform rituals for the Song dynasty, to resolve the disaster and protect the Song empire.

  Huizong personally lit incense in the Golden Hall and handed the imperial edict to General Chen, ordering him to set out immediately.

  Chen Ping received the imperial edict, bid farewell to the Son of Heaven, carried the edict on his back, brought the imperial incense, and withdrew from the grand hall.

  On the third day of July in the first year of Chongren, at noon, Emperor Huizong sat in his study, looking at this foreigner with narrowed eyes and asked: "Ma Tian Shi, what Cai Tai Shi said today, is it true?"

  Ma Yize nodded and replied, "There is indeed a record of this matter in the Imperial Observatory. The martial god silk worn by Taizu is still enshrined in the Martial God Temple at the top of Mount Hua."

  The Emperor asked again: "What is this calamity that the Grand Master spoke of?"

  The Marquis answered: "I had cast a divination before entering the palace, and got 'Ding' fourth line nine, Ding broken foot, overturned public cauldron, its shape is ominous, disastrous."

  The Emperor hastily asked: "What does this hexagram mean?"

  Ma Yi Ze replied: "The tripod is a vessel for the gods of land and grain. The tripod's broken leg and kneeling indicate that our dynasty will have the worry of being invaded by foreign tribes; while the overturned public cauldron indicates that our dynasty has lost territory, which is a painful thing. Its shape is like a repeated situation, this period of time is not short. This is an omen of great disaster."

  Ma Tian Shi paused for a moment, looked up at the Son of Heaven, and continued: "Furthermore, the legs of the tripod represent the dragon sons of the Emperor. The Emperor is the manifestation of the infinite Tao in the world, and each of the dragon sons is not an ordinary person. The broken leg of the tripod also foretells that the dragon sons will turn against each other. This is similar to what Li Chunfeng of the Tang Dynasty annotated in the 'Zhong Jing' as 'the ruler is not a ruler, the minister is not a minister.'"

  The Son of Heaven's face turned gloomy again, and he asked: "How will that old immortal Chen Bo then resolve this?"

  Ma Yize bowed his head and replied: "The methods of the gods are not something that I, a humble minister, can know. However, there is a fixed number between heaven and earth, and even the gods cannot reverse it. According to what I have seen, the old god should treat the son of Concubine Yao like he did with our ancestors, cultivating him into a martial god to revive our great Song Dynasty. This is what is meant by 'beginning in difficulty, ending in triumph'."

  Huizong sighed and said: "It can't be helped."

  On the second watch of a certain night, Emperor Huizong arrived at Renshou Palace. Consort Yao hastily led the palace maids to welcome him and they finished their three cheers of "Long Live the Emperor". Emperor Huizong waved his hand for everyone to withdraw, then took hold of Consort Yao's hand and said: "I have a task that will require your hard work, my dear consort. I had craftsmen rush to cast a gold plaque with the four characters 'Serve the Country Loyally' written in my own handwriting, to protect our son and you, my love. You must carry it with you at all times."

  Huizong was a romantic emperor, and the two of them spent a passionate night together, but I won't go into details here.

  Three days later, Chen Ping Taiwei and Yao Fei led a group of people directly to the Western Peak of Mount Hua.

  ………。

  Taiwei Chen Ping and others set out on their journey with Empress Yao.

  The journey from Bianjing to Huashan was not far, but it coincided with the scorching summer heat. Many palace dwellers were delicate and pampered, and Concubine Yao was six months pregnant, so they only traveled for half a watch in the morning and evening each day, making slow progress. Concubine Yao and Commander Chen were also lenient people, and after three months had passed, they had covered less than 100 li of distance.

  One day, the troops passed through a small town and as night had already fallen, they entered the town to rest. The county lieutenant had already led local officials and wealthy families to come and welcome them. Because the post station was simple, after reporting to Concubine Yao, Commander-in-Chief Chen and others moved into the home of Zhang, an official outside the capital.

  After finishing dinner and a round of socializing, everyone returned to their own rooms.

  Chen Taiwei was under the lamp in front of the case, admiring the gifts sent by the local people. Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door and someone entered the room. After a closer look, it turned out to be Long Er, the fourth-grade sword-bearing guard recommended by Cai Taishi.

  "The sky is already late, what is the Dragon Guard doing?" Chen Taiwei was somewhat unhappy.

  "Your Majesty, Princess Yao's due date is still over a month away. At the current pace, it's unlikely that the Emperor's firstborn will arrive in time to reach Mount Hua, and His Majesty's wishes may not be fulfilled." Long Er replied with a bow.

  "What can be done about the dragon guardian?" asked General Chen.

  "It's only a few miles from here to the Yellow River crossing," Long Er replied, "We can take the water route to Hukou and then from Hukou to Huashan. This way we can ensure that we arrive at Mount Huashan on time and also avoid the long and arduous journey for everyone."

  Chen Taiwei's eyes lit up and he asked in pursuit: "Where did the official ship come from? How can a large ship that can hold hundreds of people be found in such a remote place?"

  Long Er smiled and said, "I've received news that at the Yellow River ferry ahead, there's still a large flower stone boat belonging to Tong Guan of the Imperial Secretariat. Mr. Tong is very close to my family's Taishi, and with Princess Yao here, I should be able to borrow it for use."

  Chen Taiwei nodded: "This method is very good, Long Huwei will make arrangements first, and I will report to Concubine Yao in the morning."