Chapter Five, the Serpent Kingdom
At that time, the Chu army exterminated most of the local tribes, unifying them under one banner. However, there remained one tribe that had not been conquered by them, which was the state of She, coexisting with the Kingdom of Dian. The geographical location of this tribe was particularly perilous, with towering mountains creating numerous natural barriers, and along the way, there were also strange beasts guarding the area. Even the local tribes that were native to this land had never ventured into their territory. It is said that when the Chu army attacked this tribe, a fierce wind arose, and a giant dragon blocked their path. The Chu army suffered heavy casualties and ultimately abandoned this tribe, which was exceptionally mysterious at the time, later known as the state of She.
"Fourth Master, what does this have to do with our inviting the deity? Are we supposed to bring this Lord Zhuang back to Shandong? Don't give me a history lesson."
"Do you know about the ancient Dian Kingdom?" Fourth Master continued to ask me
Indeed, this is the ancient kingdom. More than 300 years before the Common Era, the Central Plains were rife with conflict. King Wei of Chu, in order to expand territory and strengthen national power to contend with the formidable Qin state, dispatched a large army southward, intending to incorporate the lands of the southwestern tribes into the territory of Chu. Around 286 BCE, General Zhuang Qiao of Chu was ordered to lead tens of thousands of troops out of Hunan and Hubei to pacify the regions of Ba, Shu, and western Qian, reaching Liangzhou. In Liangzhou, the Chu army faced fierce resistance from the locals. The indigenous people firmly held the mountain passes due to the natural terrain, leaving the Chu soldiers from the plains at a loss. With proper command and advanced weaponry, Zhuang Qiao ultimately defeated the indigenous people and advanced directly into central Yunnan. The various tribes around Dian Lake united and engaged in guerrilla warfare against the regular troops of Chu, utilizing the mountains and forests. The Chu army steadily pressed forward, using military force to quell the resistance of the tribes, establishing strong encampments along the shores of Dian Lake. However, it is said that due to the return route being cut off by the Qin state, they remained in the Dian Lake region and established the state of Dian. Because of its remote location, it remained undiscovered for a long time. It was not until the Han Dynasty that the state of Dian was recognized, but shortly thereafter, this ancient kingdom mysteriously vanished, leaving only fragments in the Records of the Grand Historian. For a long time, later generations could not ascertain whether the state of Dian ever existed. It was not until the discovery of the golden seal of the King of Dian that historical evidence confirmed the existence of this kingdom. The mysterious disappearance of this state continues to be a point of interest for many historians.
Is that the mysterious country that disappeared
The Fourth Master listened to my words, patted my head, and smiled, saying: "These things were told to me by an old acquaintance; I am merely relaying his words." Without further ado, he gestured for me to quickly go and get the equipment. I was extremely reluctant to go; firstly, I am somewhat overweight and my body is mostly fat, which surely does not meet the criteria for that special physique. Moreover, looking at the group of strong individuals, each effortlessly carrying three sets of equipment as if it were nothing, Da Kai and the bald man looked like two special forces soldiers in their camouflage uniforms. Although the Fourth Master is older, he has always paid great attention to health and should be fine in ordinary situations. I glanced around and saw that it was just me, the overweight one, and that quiet, thin person who resembled a dried chicken. As I was contemplating how to find an excuse to back out, the bald man and the Fourth Master exchanged a few quiet words. I glanced around and saw that it was just me, the overweight one, and that quiet, thin person who resembled a dried chicken. As I was contemplating how to find an excuse to back out, the bald man and the Fourth Master exchanged a few quiet words. The Fourth Master turned to us and said: "Put away anything unnecessary and take your own belongings; we should be on our way." I bent down to grab my equipment, and just as I did, I saw something that looked almost human peering through the corner tower, smiling at us in a way that was disturbingly uncanny. I was so startled that I shuddered and shouted: "What the hell is that?!" Just as I bent down, I saw something that looked almost human peering through the corner tower, smiling at us in a way that was disturbingly uncanny. I was so startled that I shuddered and shouted: "What the hell is that?!"
Fourth Master, I noticed you haven't been taking your birds out for a stroll these past few days. Are you at home delving into history instead? This story is almost on par with what my university lecturer would tell. As I spoke, I couldn't help but think, Fourth Master, are you perhaps motivated to capture some exotic beast? The contributions that ancient people left unfinished, do they expect us, the new socialist youth, to contribute to them as well?