Chapter 001: The Celestial Soul Opens the Spiritual Aperture

Shi Hong suddenly realized: how could these native neighbors understand the cruel machinations of the emperor? Naturally, they believed that His Majesty would not personally push his own daughter into the fire pit, merely to delay for a few years

Fu Bohu was taken aback. The Great Xia emphasized agriculture over commerce, which had been the foundation of the nation for many years. Even Fu Bohu, known for his youthful arrogance, did not dare to casually suggest changes. In fact, many scholars had not even considered the idea; they had been inherently indoctrinated to regard commerce as inferior.

Having come to a realization, he broke into a hearty laugh and took his sister away. Yet, he overlooked the fact that he himself was also a native, so how could he truly understand these matters

Shi Hong shook his head: "A war between the two countries is inevitable. If the Great Xia has any schemes, it is only through the path of victory that they can succeed"

Only when he awakened from the deep, buzzing thunder did he suddenly realize when he had gotten out of bed

Shi Hong seemed to have awakened a dreamer with a single word. At first, Fu Bohu felt astonished, but upon further reflection, it appeared to hold some merit. This was an idea he had never considered before; however, he dared not include it in his thirteen treatises on military governance. Although he was arrogant, he was not foolish.

The room was eerily quiet, with only the sound of his father's snoring from next door. Shi Hong was already drenched in cold sweat

"Come with us. If you continue to sleep here, who knows, a wild beast might actually come, and then you won't be able to escape at all." Shi Hong smiled slightly and led the person down the mountain

Although in his dream, Shi Hong was startled; he had heard the adults in the village mention such occurrences of "mountain spirits pressing down" many times.

Shi Hong trembled all over and fell down stiffly

In the long run, what the Ghost Rong lack in provisions and weapons is precisely what the Great Xia excels in. Only by using this to control the Ghost Rong and supporting the rival tribes of the Ghost Rong can we restrain them and ensure the peace of the Western Regions

No, I absolutely cannot let the mountain spirit take my soul! As Shi Hong thought of the despairing expression on his parents' faces upon discovering that he was left with nothing but a dazed shell, he became even more terrified and resolutely determined to break free at all costs. Perhaps it was this unwavering determination, and he could not tell how many times he had tried, but he exerted all his strength in a desperate struggle. He heard a sound comparable to the thunderous roar from the lightning strike yesterday, and the heavy pressure on his body suddenly shattered. Shi Hong felt as if something within him soared into the sky. Perhaps it was this unwavering determination, and he could not tell how many times he had tried, but he exerted all his strength in a desperate struggle. He heard a sound comparable to the thunderous roar from the lightning strike yesterday, and the heavy pressure on his body suddenly shattered. Shi Hong felt as if something within him soared into the sky.

Such a person, carrying nothing at all, except for a wine gourd, is indeed quite rare

Just after walking a dozen or so paces, Fu Bohu tripped over his left foot with his right foot and fell flat on the ground with a loud thud.

After having a simple breakfast, the parents went out to work in the fields, while Shi Hong and his younger sister went out to gather firewood. The siblings played throughout the mountains, and by noon, each was carrying a basket of firewood on their backs as they headed home. Suddenly, Shi Shan pointed at the grass and said, "Brother, there seems to be a person over there"

Curious, the two walked over to take a look. A person dressed in a round-neck shirt, with a waist belt, was lying in the grass, sound asleep. A wide-brimmed hat covered their face, and a bright red wine gourd hung from the waist belt.

If he had attended a private school and attained the level of a scholar like Zhang, he would certainly use the phrase "the great sound of the yellow bell" to describe this tremendous noise. However, at present, Shi Hong merely feels that it is a loud clap of thunder

Shi Shan playfully winked and made a bet with her brother: "Brother, how many times do you think this person will fall before reaching the official road?"

Fu Bohu, unwilling to show weakness, puffed out his cheeks and glared with wide eyes, resembling a toad as he confronted Shi Shan. In the end, Shi Shan was no match for him, her eyes stinging as she squinted and rubbed them with her hands, exclaiming, "You are bullying me!"

Shi Hong had nothing to say. His younger sister, Shi Shan, only five years old, with two high ponytails, stood beside her brother, pouting and helping him argue with the villagers.

At his age, these questions are simply beyond his understanding. With the nature of youth, if he cannot comprehend them, he simply sets them aside.

The thunder rumbled again, and the rain fell even heavier, as if a gap had opened in the sky, with the rain pouring down in torrents

Shi Shan chuckled softly, her fingers brushing against her face: "How embarrassing, I was no longer lost at the age of four, and yet you, as an adult, still can't find your way down the mountain..."

Shi Hong was still in a state of confusion when he heard Scholar Zhang's question. An idea naturally emerged in his mind, and he blurted out: "The Ghost Rong soldiers are strong and robust; what they lack is provisions. The Ghost Rong's King Zhai is clearly trying to take advantage of this opportunity to delay, with the aim of securing more time to gather supplies."

Upon seeing this, the villagers began to reproach Shi Hong, causing Zhang Xiucai to leave in anger. Everyone was eager to hear the latest gossip. They looked down on him for his ignorance and for speaking nonsensically. With both families set to unite in marriage, how could there still be a conflict?

Scholar Zhang was left speechless, unsure of how to argue back. In his anger, he threw out a remark, "Ignorant child, recklessly discussing national affairs," and left in a huff. He completely failed to notice the person behind Shi Hong. Had he taken off that person's hat to see their face, he would have been greatly astonished and called out the name: Fu Bohu. He would never have left so easily.

Shi Hong is merely a child of around ten years old, and is naturally fearful of ghosts, thus he struggles with all his might without any hesitation

Upon arriving at the village entrance, the three of them saw a crowd gathered around the old tree with a crooked neck.

It was only when his body made contact with the ground that a tremendous thunderclap echoed through the sky, and the old pine tree atop the mountain was split in two with a crack.

Shi Hong listened, his brow furrowing, and he involuntarily exclaimed: "On the contrary, Your Majesty marrying your own daughter to Di Jiang clearly indicates that you have made a firm decision to go to war. If that were not the case, you could simply choose any royal woman to marry into the Gui Rong; why must you send your own daughter to suffer? Your Majesty is merely adopting a stance to buy time for the impending war, yet this stance appears overly urgent. Moreover, the King of Gui Rong, Di Jiang, has managed to govern the Gui Rong with a strong army of over a million soldiers; he must be a person of great talent and ambition. As the King of Gui Rong, what kind of woman could he not have? Would he really submit to our Great Xia for the sake of a Princess Liang Yun? This conflict between the two families is inevitable."

He simply felt that his strength was far too weak compared to the "giant stone" pressing down on him, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not move at all

Fu Bohu repeated his name twice, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled, saying: "My name is Fu Bohu, remember this name. It is not because I am famous that it is your honor to know me, but because one day when you become famous, I will feel honored to have known you." After saying this, the young talent waved his sleeve, picked up the wine gourd, and turned to walk unsteadily towards the village exit

Father, Mother!" Shihong cheerfully greeted his parents. They vaguely sensed that Shihong was somewhat different today compared to before, but they could not pinpoint why. Given their straightforward nature as mountain people, they certainly did not notice that Shihong had been actively greeting them cheerfully for the past few days, whereas previously, this boy would wake up early in a daze and would always wait for his parents to call him first.

"Don't..." Shi Hong's father quickly intervened, as this wooden bucket was filled with water, weighing several dozen pounds; it was not a small lamb. Shi Hong had already lifted the wooden bucket with one hand, effortlessly raising it above his shoulder and pouring the water into the water tank.

After a month and a half, Scholar Zhang would make a trip to the city, where he would listen to some fresh news in the teahouse and then return to boast about it to the villagers in the mountains.

Shi Hong pondered for a moment and then continued: "In fact, if Your Majesty could change the habit of valuing principles over tools, and generously reward the craftsmen of the Great Xia, developing crossbows and artillery, with the current advantages of Great Xia, within fifty years, the Ghost Rong would not dare to recklessly resort to arms."

In the suddenly clear sky, a bright flash of lightning struck down like a sharp sword, directly hitting Shi Hong's head. Amidst the brilliant electric light, a nearly invisible golden starlight merged into Shi Hong's body along with the lightning.

Boom

Fu Bohu waved his hand, and the strong smell of alcohol made Shi Shan pinch her nose and roll her eyes at him. Fu Bohu was unfazed; instead, he laughed heartily and playfully tugged at Shi Shan's sky-high ponytail, which made her puff out her cheeks in anger and glare at him.

A deep rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, causing the pine trees atop the mountain peaks to tremble with their needles shaking. Before the thunder had subsided, rain the size of yellow beans began to fall in a rapid patter.

In fact, Fu Bohu's mentor and Zhang Xiucai's private school teacher were classmates and close friends. Out of courtesy, he gave a lecture on the "Gongyang Zhuan" at the county's private school. When introducing him, the teacher mentioned that Zhang Xiucai was three months older than Fu Bohu, and out of politeness, he addressed him as "Brother Zhang," which then became a source of boast for Zhang Xiucai in his life

Shi Hong felt increasingly guilty; having lost a lamb, he still intended to eat eggs. That night, he lay down with a heavy heart. Under such a mindset, it is generally impossible for anyone to fall asleep, yet as soon as Shi Hong lay on the bed, his eyelids began to droop, and before long, he fell into a deep slumber.

Fu Bohu took a sip of wine, smiled, and asked, "What is your name?"

The person behind Shi Hong wore a conical hat that covered his entire face. He had been walking unsteadily along the way, his eyes bleary from drunkenness. Upon hearing Shi Hong's words, his eyes suddenly brightened, and he couldn't help but take a closer look at the young boy from the mountain village.

For this reason, although the Zhang family was a landlord family, they tightened their belts and endured for more than ten years

Fu Bohu stroked his chin and nodded: "Then he continued speaking"

A pair of big, shiny eyes, though simple, carries a hint of foolishness

"Hey, little one, wait for me." Fu Bohu, wearing a straw hat, quickly called out to him. Shi Hong slapped his forehead and said apologetically, "Sorry, I forgot to give you directions. You can follow the road at the village entrance heading east, and you will soon reach the main road..."

People in the mountains cannot distinguish between various titles and honors; as long as they can read, they are all considered scholars

His father was taken aback for a moment, then felt a sense of relief without a care: "My son has grown up, and we have gained a good laborer in the family"

Fu Bohu silently nodded, glanced at Shi Hong, and sighed deeply: "I never expected that at this age, I would have to lament the youth's formidable potential..."

Do you know who Fu Bohu is? He is recognized as the foremost talent of the Great Xia, excelling in both poetry and literature. He is the designated successor of the current prime minister, Lin Changren. Although he is merely a scholar at present, it is certain that within ten years, he will ascend to the position of prime minister. Such a person deserves to be respectfully addressed as Brother Zhang. Ah! The boasting of Scholar Zhang often begins this way, and he revels in the envious gazes of the rustic villagers who have no knowledge of who Fu Bohu truly is.

What Shi Hong said coincides with his thoughts. He has prepared for several years to present to His Majesty the thirteen memorials on military governance, the core content of which is precisely these.

Shi Hong's mother woke up in the middle of the night, still feeling somewhat uneasy about her son. She got up to check if the boy had kicked off his blanket again. To her surprise, as she reached the side of Shi Hong's bed, she saw a flash of golden starlight at his forehead. Startled, she fell to the ground and took a long time to regain her composure. When she stood up again to look, she found her son sleeping soundly in bed, which finally put her mind at ease. She guessed that her excessive worry about him that day had caused her to see things.

Shihong's mother was even more anxious, and with a determined heart, she took out two eggs that were prepared to be exchanged for salt at home, chopped the scallions finely, and stir-fried them for him, forcing Shihong to eat them.

Scholar Zhang was in this small mountain village "pointing out the rivers and mountains"; when has he ever been interrupted by anyone? Suddenly infuriated, he pointed at Shi Hong and shouted, "You little brat, what do you know? How dare you speak nonsense here! If it were truly as you say, why would the Ghost Rong accept His Majesty's marriage proposal?"

Shi Hong's father felt sorry for that lamb; after raising it, he took it to the market to sell. For a family like theirs in a mountain village, this was a substantial income

"Hee hee hee..." Shi Shan's laughter was like silver bells, while Shi Hong felt a flush of heat on his face

The next day, when Shi Hong woke up, he felt particularly good. The chaotic abstract images from his dreams had long faded from memory, yet he sensed that something about today was different. However, he could not articulate exactly what was different; he simply felt clear-headed, alert, and invigorated.

Shi Hong was also unsure how these thoughts came to his mind. He furrowed his brow and spoke eloquently: "In the short term, the Great Xia should focus on the battle at hand. The strength of the Gui Rong lies in their troops, while the strength of the Great Xia lies in their superior weapons, abundant soldiers, and ample supplies. Once the war begins, the most prudent approach is to fortify defenses and clear the fields, holding onto key strongholds without concerning ourselves with the gains or losses of individual cities or territories. As long as we can endure for four months, the Gui Rong's supplies will surely be exhausted, leaving them unable to continue. They cannot retreat without suffering losses."

He is just an ordinary boy from a mountain village, like the other children in the village, skilled at working in the fields and herding sheep on the mountains. If they were to be sent to a private school to study... This kind of simple-minded foolishness would make the teacher's palms swell from hitting them.

On the grinding stone in the center, there sat a man dressed in a blue long gown. This individual held a significant position in the village, as he was the only literate scholar in the community.

Seeing him wake up, Shi Hong's father finally breathed a sigh of relief. This robust mountain man effortlessly lifted Shi Hong onto his shoulder with one hand: "You went out to tend the sheep and didn't come back. Your mother was worried and asked me to come look for you. What happened? How did you end up lying here?"

"Ah Hong, Ah Hong, wake up, are you alright..."

Shi Shan had none of these thoughts. Seeing that the person was still asleep, she called out cheerfully, "Hey, if you keep sleeping here, be careful that the wolf might come and carry you away"

Although this point is good, once it is raised, it undoubtedly places the educated class in opposition to the common people. The idea that previously lowly craftsmen would stand on equal footing with scholars is something that no one can accept

Scholar Zhang is almost the only channel of communication between the village and the outside world, and no one doubts this.

Father, Mother, I am going to sleep. Shi Hong placed the clean coarse porcelain bowl down after finishing his meal, wiped his mouth, and got up to go to bed. People in the mountains have little entertainment at night and need to conserve lamp oil, so they all go to bed quite early. By the time the moon rises above the treetops, the entire mountain village is already enveloped in tranquility

... ...

Shi Hong suddenly slapped his forehead and remembered: "I was struck by lightning. Oh no! Where is our sheep..."

Zhang Xiucai's family is the largest landlord in the village, and half of the fertile land on the nearby mountain belongs to the Zhang family. In the generation of Zhang Xiucai's father, he was determined to have a scholar emerge from the family to bring glory to their ancestors. Therefore, regardless of whether his son was suited for it, he insisted on sending him to a private school in the county.

Shi Hong smiled and shook his head, looking at Fu Bohu's back and said: "This gentleman is a person of great wisdom; he is intoxicated by the essence, not by the wine, and will not stumble."

Shi Hong lay in bed and had a very strange dream. It seemed as if a huge stone was pressing down on him, and no matter how hard he struggled, he could not move at all, as if his body no longer belonged to him.

Ah Hong! When Shi Hong's mother saw him being carried back, she immediately rushed over. Upon seeing her daughter-in-law with tears in her eyes, Shi Hong's father quickly reassured her: "He was struck by lightning, but he is fine now"

Shi Hong picked up the little lamb that was still grazing and quickly dashed towards two large stones nearby that were arranged in a shape resembling the character "人". The heavy rain poured down, and Shi Hong sheltered the lamb under the stones, staring blankly at the torrential rain outside. Although he was only twelve years old, having grown up in the mountains, his physique was much stronger than that of an average child

Shihong's father was carrying a wooden bucket to pour water into the water tank. Shihong stepped forward and said, "Father, let me help you"

Shi Hong

How did one suddenly become much stronger overnight

Everyone can rest assured that we will no longer be at war with the Gui Rong. During my recent outing, I have already heard that the Emperor has decided to betroth Princess Liang Yun to King Di Jiang of the Gui Rong. The two families have reconciled. Princess Liang Yun is the Emperor's own daughter, beautiful as a flower and graceful in demeanor. Her marriage to the Gui Rong will surely ensure the safety of our borders. There is no need for everyone to worry about military service any longer

This is your soul being coveted by the mountain spirit. It secretly presses down on you at night, and if by dawn you cannot break free, your three souls and seven spirits will be completely absorbed by the mountain spirit. From then on, you will have no soul, only a body, becoming a dull and foolish person.

He waited for quite a while, yet the terrifying "Mountain Ghost" that the adults spoke of did not appear. Feeling somewhat puzzled, he had a thought and discovered that he had once again left his body.

... ...

The rain in the mountains comes swiftly and departs just as quickly. After a violent outburst from the sky, the rain soon gives way to clear skies. Shi Hong leads two lambs out.

He stood on the ground; no, it should be said that he floated above the ground, gently hovering, with both feet still a foot away from the surface. Shi Hong was taken aback, and when he turned around, he realized that he was still lying in bed!

Father," he called out, "where am I?"

Rumbling ... ...

Shi Hong's first reaction was that his soul had been drawn out by the mountain spirit. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed back to his own body. To his surprise, there was no danger at all, and he smoothly returned to his physical form.

Hahaha! Fu Bohu laughed heartily, showing no shame in bickering with a child. Amidst his carefree demeanor, there was an extraordinary sense of clarity. He asked Shi Hong, "You speak eloquently; do you have any solutions to the current deadlock?"

In his dream, amidst the bizarre and fantastical, he beheld the radiant light like lightning, agile as a swimming dragon, capable of traversing heaven and earth, omnipotent

The person behind Shi Hong nodded quietly, acknowledging that although these principles are simple, articulating them clearly is not an easy task. Even the classmates in the Tu Shu Academy, who often discuss the state of the world, may not perceive things as clearly as this young child. The person felt admiration in their heart and couldn't help but take another sip from the gourd.

Shi Hong felt deeply guilty. The children of the poor must take on responsibilities early, and he certainly understood what that lamb meant for the family. However, apart from his guilt, he truly could not think of any way to remedy the situation. Having grown up in the mountains, he had never even ventured beyond the mountains. The limitations of his perspective and experience left him at a loss.

He never expected that in such a remote little mountain village, there could be someone who, in just a few words, could clearly articulate a military strategy he had been planning for several years. Moreover, this person was merely a teenager. If he considered himself a genius, then this young man must be a genius among geniuses

It is unclear how much time has passed, but Shi Hong was shaken awake. Blinking in confusion, he opened his eyes to find that it was already dark, and in front of him were a pair of concerned eyes.

Shi Hong himself did not expect to utter such words, as if this insight had always existed in his mind. As a simple and dull boy from a mountain village, he could not possibly comprehend matters of national defense, let alone provide such analysis

Upon a glance, Shi Hong noticed a foot clad in black shoes protruding from the long grass.

The attire of this person is somewhat unconventional, and Shi Hong finds it difficult to discern who they truly are. In the mountains, there are often scholars who come to enjoy the spring scenery, but they are mostly accompanied by their attendants. When inspiration strikes for poetry, it is invaluable; however, if one does not have their attendant with writing materials at hand, it would be a pity to let a good opportunity slip by.

Shi Hong stroked the soft, snow-white wool of the lamb, muttering to himself in a silly manner: "Grandpa said that when it rains, it's because Thunder God and Rain Goddess are arguing. I see that their life in the sky isn't that great, just like Liu Er, the scoundrel from the east end of the village, and his wife, who argue every few days. The thunder is really loud today. Hmm, it seems that Rain Goddess has really angered Thunder God this time..." The simple-minded boy reached his conclusion quite smoothly. The thunder is really loud today. Hmm, it seems that Rain Goddess has really angered Thunder God this time..." The simple-minded boy reached his conclusion quite smoothly.

The villagers felt a sense of relief, filled with joyous voices. In recent years, the Great Xia Dynasty had been in constant friction with the Western Ghostly Rong, and a great war seemed imminent. Once war broke out, it would naturally lead to devastation, and even these small mountain villages would not escape the suffering of conscription.

Although Scholar Zhang has repeatedly failed in his examinations and is regarded by his teacher as a piece of rotten wood that cannot be carved, in this mountain village, he undeniably presents the demeanor of a "great scholar." The most gratifying achievement in his life is not his own poetry and essays, but rather his past and present camaraderie with the foremost talent of the Great Xia, Fu Bohu.

He comforted his son: "It's alright, if he ran away, he ran away; as long as you are fine." The man carried him on his back and walked steadily towards the village.

The person moved slightly, removed the hat from his face, and with bleary, drunken eyes glanced at the two individuals. He sat up comfortably and stretched lazily, brushing off the straw from his clothes: "Well, it's good that someone can finally take me out of here." He took a sip from the wine gourd at his waist and teased, "You two little ones aren't lost like me, are you?"

Shi Hong's father often scares his little daughter like this

Shi Hong was momentarily taken aback; he had just said he would help, convinced that his father would definitely lift the bucket with him. He had tried this bucket before; when filled with water, Shi Hong exerted all his strength, and at most could only lift it with both hands, let alone carry it over his shoulder.

The man's face flushed red, and he let out a couple of awkward laughs. After taking another sip of wine, his face turned even redder

Shi Hong is the eldest son in the family, and he has a younger sister. Naturally, she has also benefited from her brother's improved living conditions.