Capítulo 2021: Chapter 172: In the Third Month of That Year, the Crown Prince Shoots the Dragon and Fox
The not-so-expansive Donghua Pavilion was filled with a warmth that was just right.
Every breeze here, every sensation touching the skin, was ticulously managed by dedicated individuals.
Ensuring the Emperor was not distracted by trivial matters was their greatest contribution to the Great Qi Empire.
The Emperor of Qi sat.
Jiang Wang bowed.
Li Zhengshu stood quietly to the side, not saying a word.
Qiu Ji kept watch outside the pavilion’s door, and there was no extraneous sound from afar.
Even the light in the room was disciplined, not daring to flicker in the slightest.
This kind of waiting was most suited for cultivation. Jiang Wang thought inexplicably.
But it was just a thought after all.
The aning of ti was difficult to asure at this mont.
After who knows how long, following yet another page turn—
“In that year’s March, the Crown Prince shoots the Dragon and Fox.”
The Son of Heaven’s voice seed to descend from above the Nine Heavens, so close yet so distant.
Jiang Wang responded imdiately, “Taizu deed it inauspicious and expelled him to Qingqiu. Thus, Shanghua was established.”
The “History of Chiseling the Sea,” compiled by the venerable scholar Sima Heng of Diligent Academy, is the most comprehensive historiographical work recording the histories of the various countries since the New Dao Calendar began. It is widely recognized as a trustworthy history.
Sima Heng traveled the world, visiting historical sites, tracing the past and present, collecting old anecdotes, secret histories, snippets from famous figures of successive generations…
Histories of various countries, local records, stories passed down by word of mouth, changes in climate, transformations of mountains and rivers… all these were his materials.
He must verify them with each other, obtain credible historical information, and only then put pen to paper.
Sima Heng’s writing is concise and precise, unbiased, revealing almost no personal emotional inclinations.
As the opening sentence of “History of Chiseling the Sea” states—
“Sima, nad Heng, a dull-witted person, only realizes himself by observing history. Without a boat to cross, he chisels the sea with a blade.”
He claid he had no innate talent or insight and wisdom at birth, and only by extensively perusing history’s ebb and flow could he understand himself.
He said history itself is the truest evaluation, and he was not qualified to pass judgnt on predecessors.
He said he was rely a recorder of history, not a comntator… and indeed, he did just that.
The entire “History of Chiseling the Sea” spreads over millions of words, yet those discarded and edited down are in the millions as well. The effort spent on those million words, how much more than billions!
He took up to three hundred years, revising forty-three tis before the book was finalized. Once established, this book beca the recognized trustworthy history of the world!
The “History of Chiseling the Sea” records history from the beginning of the New Dao Calendar to the year 3900 of the Dao Calendar. National rise and fall, the actions of lords and ministers, allowing all under heaven to know the affairs of past and present, the torrent of the Human Dao, all surges within.
According to Sima Heng, every 60 years there would be a supplent of content. Now it is the year 3920 of the Dao Calendar, so the history of the various countries after the year 3900 has not yet been finalized, but his disciples have long begun collecting credible relevant information.
With all the millions of words, compiled into 307 volus. So national records form a volu independently, while others can only be compiled into one volu with other countries.
Volus one to ten are all “Jing Strategy”!
Among those overlord countries that have stood until now or once flourished, “Jing Strategy” is ten volus, “Yang Strategy” six volus, “Qin Strategy” eight volus, “Chu Strategy” nine volus, “Pasture Strategy” six volus, “Jing Strategy” seven volus, “Qi Strategy” three volus…
The passage the Emperor of Qi recited, “In that year’s March, the Crown Prince shoots the Dragon and Fox,” is precisely from Volu two of the “History of Chiseling the Sea.”
And the next sentence is “Taizu deed it inauspicious and expelled him to Qingqiu. Thus, Shanghua was established.”
This section narrates the historical account of Emperor Jing Taizu deposing and appointing a crown prince.
Jiang Wang readily responded, undoubtedly having put in hard work.
“Son of Qingyang, no need to be so formal,” the Emperor of Qi casually said, “sit and speak.”
Jiang Wang thought, so there was indeed an inspection. Fortunately, I morized… a portion of it.
On second thought, the Emperor of Great Qi was quite benevolent, only testing on such an early chapter…
He let out a sigh of relief, but this breath was not completely released.
He straightened his body and said very respectfully, “Returning to Qi is already a respite, being summoned by the Son of Heaven is great fortune. I stand and speak just fine.”
What a joke, with Donghua Scholar Li Zhengshu standing, how could he dare sit?
This flattery was clearly straightforward; the Son of Heaven remained unmoved and, of course, did not grant a seat, only asking again, “Tell , why did Emperor Jing Taizu consider it inauspicious?”
Jiang Wang was stunned!
Originally, when requesting leave to depart from Qi to Chu, you only said to morize, not to fully understand!
How could I know why Emperor Jing Taizu considered it inauspicious? I can’t ask him!
Why? Why! Sima Heng did not write it either!
Of course, he did not dare to say these words to the Emperor of Qi.
He was tempted to forcefully interpret a few sentences.
Ultimately, he rely said, “I, foolish as I am, know what happened but not why it happened.”
When Jiang Wang was flattering, Li Zhengshu frowned because it indeed lacked skill. But upon the utterance of the word “foolish,” a slight smile appeared in his eyes.
Sima Heng also began the “History of Chiseling the Sea” by assuming the persona of a foolish man.
This, precisely, is an attitude towards history!
One may not understand, but must not pretend to.
One may be ignorant, but must not distort.
There are thousands and thousands of historians in the world, so why was Sima Heng alone able to compile the recognized trustworthy history of the world?
The answer lies in the book’s title.
Nothing more than four words, “History of Chiseling the Sea”!
In every inch and every stroke, in seeking truth from facts.
Whether Jiang Wang did so intentionally or unintentionally, using the word “foolish” at this mont, in this context, was nothing short of brilliant.
User Comments
0 comments from readers