Chapter 6, The Goodness of Water

Wang An was also moved by the words, lost in thought for a while, and suddenly raised his head to say to General Wei Ti: "Thank you, General Wei, for your guidance. If the opportunity arises, I will speak to my master again and ask him to select trustworthy brothers to come to the North to seek you."

The people of Northern Han, each voicing their opinions, managed to provoke Wang An, this young Qibo in his early twenties, to the point where his face turned red with anger. He declared indignantly, "There are deities above my head; if the Song people do not grant us Shu people a way to survive, then I will stake my life on it and end it all."

Although the mission was not accomplished, the people of Beihan were touched by the compassion expressed in Zhang Alang's words. Wei Ti waved his hand, instructing Song Wende to take out the twenty gold ingots tied around his waist, saying: "These material possessions, please have Zhang Qibo offer them on our behalf to the Erlang God." Zhang Alang did not decline, allowing Wang An to accept them, and then said: "Tonight, we happen to be holding a ritual to pray for the Erlang God's blessing for a bountiful autumn harvest. Would the general be willing to observe the ceremony before departing?"

Before the young child could speak, Wang An preemptively replied: "This is my junior apprentice, named Li Shun, with the character 'Li' for wood, and 'Shun' as in Yao and Shun."

Zhang Alang furrowed his brows, intending to send Wang An to calm the villagers and to see who was making the noise over there. Suddenly, a few sounds of gongs came from the east. After the gongs sounded, voices could be faintly heard from outside the Erlang God Temple square, but due to the uproar of the villagers in the square, it was difficult to hear clearly. Zhang Alang raised both hands to urge the villagers in the square to quiet down.

Thus, Wei Ti put down the black pottery tea bowl and clasped his hands to Wang An, saying: "What Zhang Qibo just mentioned is indeed reasonable. However, if we allow the Song people to continue oppressing the common folk in this manner, they are likely to become even more overreaching, and at that time, it is feared that the people will suffer even more." After speaking, he exchanged a glance with Song Wende, Wang Gui, and others.

The sacrificial priest, undeterred by the numerous tasks, swiftly placed the first bowl of blood and the heads of each sheep in front of the statue of Erlang Shen. He then burned the four hooves along with the heart, liver, and lungs in the furnace, arranging the remaining parts of the sheep neatly on a vacant area in the square. All these tasks were completed in a matter of moments, during which Zhang Alang continuously muttered incantations, presumably inviting Erlang Shen to partake in the meal

Zhang Alang also stood up and cupped his hands in salute, saying: "May the Erlang God bless the general, and I also ask the general to understand the hardships faced by the common people in the world"

As the ritual for the worship of Er Lang was about to conclude, Zhang Alang was preparing to instruct the villagers to take back the sacrificed lamb meat for their own sharing. Suddenly, the villagers from the east began to stir, with those at the back pushing forward incessantly, while those at the front were reluctant to rush forward and disturb the offerings meant for Er Lang, resulting in a chaotic scene.

Wang An couldn't help but be taken aback. Logically speaking, any suggestions from Beihan should be directly communicated to Zhang Alang, allowing the master to make the decision. However, Wei Ti was clearly indicating that he wanted to discuss it with him, which made him somewhat hesitant

Although it is believed that Zhang Qibo himself has not been swayed, Wang An, his eldest disciple, could potentially instigate turmoil in Shu if he harbors intentions against the Song court. To strengthen his resolve, the people of Beihan engaged in a lively discussion, each contributing anecdotes from the military affairs of the northern border, ridiculing the Song troops and their generals to an extreme degree, making it seem as if it was the Song people who had been oppressed and defeated over the years

"People inside, listen up. Here, the demons are colluding with enemy nations to plot a rebellion. The court is here to apprehend the criminals. The imperial army has completely surrounded this area. Those who do not wish to die should immediately squat down and wait for the imperial army to conduct inspections. Any resistance will be met with execution without mercy"

The young boy initially did not respond, but after seeing Wang An nod, he finally replied

Wang An is indeed a talented individual, as he engages in conversation with seven or eight visitors from Northern Han, managing to make each one feel that they are greatly valued by this esteemed disciple of Qi Bo. Although Northern Han has been consistently suppressed by Khitan and the Central Plains dynasties, the primary reason lies in its inferior national strength. In terms of the resilience and ferocity of its soldiers, they may even surpass others. The troops accompanying Wei Ti to Shu are seasoned warriors who have emerged from a sea of corpses and blood, exuding an impressive aura in their everyday speech. Only Chen De inquires about the livelihood of the people in Shu, and he takes a keen interest in discussing with Wang An, who has been a tea farmer for generations, the question of how to brew tea without losing its original flavor.

Wei Ti smiled faintly and replied, "Your esteemed teacher mentioned that the people of Shu are unaccustomed to warfare, which is why they have no choice but to endure the harsh governance of the Song. The old general has a suggestion: why not select several hundred strong men from your esteemed school to train in our Northern Han army for a year and a half, learning the art of battle? In the event that the Song people become even more oppressive in the future, and when the heavens and the people are united in their anger, these strong men could serve as the backbone, allowing your esteemed school to raise the banner of righteousness. The Song people only believe that the people of Shu are weak and unprepared, providing your esteemed school with a significant opportunity to conquer Chengdu in one fell swoop, leading to the swift establishment of order in the various prefectures and counties of Shu. At that time, it would only require sending a great general to seal the Jianmen Pass to restore the land of Shu to its former prosperity."

According to the rules, the sacrificial rites must be conducted after dark. At this time, there are still many matters that need to be prepared in advance. Therefore, Zhang Alang had his disciple Wang An sit with him and called for a young boy to serve tea to the people from Northern Han. He took two of his disciples to arrange the necessary matters for the evening's sacrificial rites

At this moment, Zhang Alang turned his head and said something to Wang An. Taking advantage of the opportunity while everyone was looking at Zhang Alang, Wang An quietly slipped down from the altar and found Wei Ti, saying: "The court does not know how it learned that the generals are here. Please rest assured, the Second Son God will never allow his guests to be taken away by the enemy. My master has instructed me to take you all to the temple to discuss further plans." After saying this, he turned and walked towards the back of the temple.

But what kind of person is Wei Ti? Seeing that Wang An, who holds some prestige among the villagers, has already entered the fray, how could he let it go? Without waiting for him to respond, he said: "Although our Northern Han is a small country with a poor populace, it is well known that our soldiers are strong and valiant after years of warfare." These words, spoken by the old general, exuded a sense of pride and confidence, causing Wang An to unconsciously nod in agreement

Seeing that the people from the Northern Han were all adopting a mindset of "since we are here, we should settle in comfortably," the young servant brought in the brewed tea. He first served Wei Ti, followed by Song Wende, Wang Gui, Chen De, and others. Although the boy was young, he clearly understood the hierarchy among the guests, and his demeanor was quite calm, unlike a country boy who had never seen the world, which surprised everyone. Wang Gui took the tea from him and asked with a smile, "I think this little fellow is quite good; what is his name?"

Chen De felt that this name was quite familiar, and he couldn't help but chuckle. In this world, he had no acquaintances left. Nevertheless, he took out a small handful of copper coins from his pocket, smiled kindly at the boy, and said to Wang An: "I have a few copper coins here; let your junior brother buy some candy to eat." After saying this, he was about to hand the coins to the child.

At this moment, the square in front of the Erlang Temple is crowded with villagers from all directions, seeking the blessings of Lord Erlang, numbering almost in the thousands. Upon seeing Wang An leading the crowd, the originally congested villagers instinctively made way, clearly recognizing Wang An's identity as the young prayer leader. Upon arriving at the Erlang Temple in Guankou, the crowd discovered that the two white mounds they had seen at the temple entrance were actually sacrificial towers constructed from tens of thousands of sheep skulls. Between the two sheep skull towers stood an enormous incense burner, which did not hold incense sticks or candles, but was filled with branches of mulberry and cypress. The flames had already been ignited, and the flames leaped as if they were higher than the golden roof of the temple, casting a fierce light that illuminated the stark white bones and the devout worshippers, creating an exceptionally eerie atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Alang's expression changed dramatically, and he immediately looked towards Wei Ti and the others. The faces of the people from Beihan also changed drastically. Wei Ti reflected that since entering Shu, he had visited all the strongholds that had been associated with Beihan for decades, and he had never revealed his identity. He merely represented Beihan to deliver some gold, silver, and weapons to them. Such underground transactions were almost constantly taking place within the territory of the former Shu. How could they have caught the attention of the Song people? The coincidence was that just as his group arrived here, the Song court mobilized a large army to besiege the Erlang Temple at Guankou. Had the Song court been monitoring this Erlang Temple all along, or had he been betrayed by Zhang Qibo? Such underground transactions were almost constantly taking place within the territory of the former Shu. How could they have caught the attention of the Song people? The coincidence was that just as his group arrived here, the Song court mobilized a large army to besiege the Erlang Temple at Guankou. Had the Song court been monitoring this Erlang Temple all along, or had he been betrayed by Zhang Qibo?

Wei Ti stared at Zhang Alang, who seemed to still be pondering on the stage, and then followed Wang An out of the square, turning to the side door to enter the temple

Zhang Alang stated in an unequivocal tone: He guarantees that there will be no heavy rain during the autumn harvest period, but the villagers must seize the good weather to harvest the crops, ensuring that the grains are promptly dried and stored. Furthermore, during this time, no immoral or indecent activities are to occur in any place; otherwise, if a storm arises, it will be the villagers' own responsibility.

This action seems to have narrowed the psychological distance with Wang An. Although Wang An has followed his master and seen quite a bit of the world, he is well aware that Wei Ti and others are much higher-ranking dignitaries than local officials, and since this is their first meeting, he cannot help but feel somewhat restrained. At present, Wei Ti's temperament seems to be not bad, and his subordinates, such as Wang Gui and Chen De, are also amiable, which is different from the usual demeanor of ordinary officials, causing Tu Shu to relax slightly. After expressing his gratitude to Chen De on behalf of his junior brother, he sighed, "The former ruler governed the country with benevolence. Sichuan was originally a land of abundance, and life was incredibly comfortable. Who would have thought that disaster would suddenly strike from the heavens, with the Song people taking everything away? Nowadays, children are lucky if they can barely avoid starvation, let alone have candy to eat."

Wei Ti spoke in one breath, and everyone held their breath, looking at Wang An. The content of his words seemed highly feasible, not only making Wang An eager to try, but even the young servant serving tea appeared to be stirred, his wrist trembling slightly as he held the teacup. In the quiet room, only the faint sound of the teacup and saucer clinking could be heard

At that moment, Zhang Alang emerged from the temple accompanied by eight disciples. He raised his hands to the sky, and the villagers inside and outside the square immediately fell silent, kneeling down one after another. Wei Ti and the others, standing in the center, appeared particularly out of place, so they too knelt before Erlang Shen, while Chen De curiously observed how Zhang Alang performed the ritual.

In front of the incense burner, a large offering table had already been set up, filled with statues of Erlang Shen, gongs, drums, conch shells, divine palanquins, battle flags, and other ritual implements. Chen De carefully examined the statue of Erlang Shen, which depicted a handsome warrior carrying a carved bow at his waist and holding a yellow dog, resembling the Erlang Shen from his memories.

Wei Di nodded and said, "Indeed, heroes emerge from youth since ancient times." He then turned to Song Wende and said, "Wende, could you take out one of my tokens and hand it to Xiao Qibo, so that the warriors in Shu can recognize each other in the future." Song Wende immediately nodded in agreement.

The assurance from Erlang Shen relieved all the villagers, and soon about several dozen goats were brought to the square. The disciple in charge of the sacrifice first used the thick smoke produced by burning mulberry branches to fumigate the goats thoroughly, and then washed them clean from head to tail with water. Finally, several other disciples presented the special cutting board and knife for the sacrifice. The knife was first smoked over the mulberry smoke, and then it was used to cut the goats' throats. The dozens of goats seemed to know their fate, bleating incessantly until their last breath, with some even shedding tears from the corners of their eyes.

Zhang Alang had his eyes slightly closed, muttering incantations, with his shoulders shaking violently. To Chen De, who had grown up immersed in various supernatural television shows, this was the standard action for summoning a deity. Then, Wang An, who had somehow approached Zhang Alang, asked the already possessed Zhang Alang, who was under the influence of Erlang Shen, whether there would be storms during the autumn harvest period, while also requesting Erlang Shen's blessing for good weather during the harvest.

Chen De was momentarily taken aback, but Song Wende immediately understood and interjected: "Our country is far to the north, neighboring powerful nations such as the Khitan and Song, and we are almost constantly at war. Although we have suffered countless casualties over the years, we have at least made our enemies understand that we are not lambs waiting to be slaughtered"

Wei Ti saw that this provocation had already taken effect and smiled, saying: "The enemy is strong while we are weak. Although your esteemed teacher's idea is commendable, if we continue to endure without resistance, it will only embolden the enemy further. Young Lord Qi, I have a suggestion; I wonder if you would be willing to hear it"

The people of Northern Han immediately thought of the plundering by the Song state, feeling a sense of shared grievance and inevitably harboring a spirit of enmity. Only Wei Ti observed this disciple named Wang An, feeling that he was entirely different from Zhang Alang. If Zhang Alang was like a deep spring nourishing the people, Wang An seemed more like a long-suppressed volcano. It appeared that Zhang Alang intended to make Wang An his successor, but it was uncertain whether he could gradually temper the anger within Wang An during his lifetime. Nevertheless, this person could indeed be a valuable asset for Northern Han.

Wei Tixin understood that the invitation to participate in the grand ceremony honoring Erlang Shen was an offer of friendship towards himself and others, so he did not decline. He smiled and said, "This is indeed what I wish for, I would not dare to impose on you."

As the sky gradually darkened, a disciple of the Qibo came to deliver a message, and Wang An led the people of Beihan to the Erlang Temple in Guankou to observe the ceremony

At this moment, the square was in chaos. Some people were anxious, fearing that the Song court would seize the opportunity to commit slaughter again, while others were cursing in a Sichuan dialect, ready to confront the officials as if preparing to clash with Erlang Shen. More people were watching Zhang Qibo on the altar, waiting for him to make a decision

At this moment, Wang Gui also understood: "Bending low and being servile will only make the enemy see you as a little lamb; it is through the language of swords and blades that one can win the chance to survive"

The people of Northern Han all tightly gripped the blades they carried with them, their eyes fixed on Wei Ti. As soon as the leader gave the command, whether to rush up to the altar to capture Zhang Alang or to break through the crowd, they would execute it without hesitation