Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1158 - 11: Emperor Wu’s Rewards, Maxed Out?! (Da Zhang)
Zhao Xing contemplated: "After all is said and done, it’s because the former emperor fought for many years, and they gained no advantage, on the contrary, it caused a decline in population, of course they do not wish to continue fighting."
Ji Che shook his head: "I cannot satisfy everyone’s interests, the current military merit system is already generous enough, moreover, using benefits to drive them, is it the righteous path?"
"Brother, if you want to bind everyone to our chariot, is there any other way?"
Zhao Xing said: "More important than interests is survival; if we don’t conquer other countries, it will lead to the decline of Great Zhou, which can unite the majority of the people."
Ji Che pondered for a moment, gazing at the Huaqing Pool, then he looked at Zhao Xing: "Brother, have you ever heard the legend of ascension?"
"I have heard a bit about it," Zhao Xing replied. "It is said that during the Ancient Times of Fortune Dynasty, they possessed the power to seize the creation of heaven and earth, breaking the shackles of the Xuanhuang Realm, attaining enlightenment and ascension, and were later referred to as the Divine Court. But this is ultimately a legend."
Ji Che said: "What if I told you that the Divine Court is not a mere legend?"
Zhao Xing remained composed: "I am willing to hear the details."
Ji Che smiled: "This is what I like about you, brother. Even the most significant matters seem small to you; hearing such words, you’re not remotely surprised."
Pausing for a moment, Ji Che said: "Brother, I seriously tell you, the Divine Court is not hearsay!"
"It truly exists, but only the emperor of a unified Central State can gain this secret."
Zhao Xing said: "Che, why do you want to tell me."
"Because I intended to disclose this secret."
Ji Che waved his sleeve, and a black stone slab appeared in the air: "This is the Book of Heaven’s Mandate; in thirty-five thousand years during the Age of Ten Thousand Kingdoms, it has never surfaced."
"But ever since the Grand Ancestor unified Central State, this object flew in from beyond the heavens and reached his hands."
"What is recorded above is the secret of dynastic ascension."
"After the Divine Dynasty achieves ascension, they select civil and military officials to shatter the void and leave the Xuanhuang Realm."
"It is precisely the ascension of one generation after another of Divine Dynasties that leads to historical discontinuities, the historians of Great Zhou can only revise up to five hundred forty thousand years ago."
"Of course, more are examples of failure, suffering from heavenly punishment, turned to ash, disappearing into the long history."
Zhao Xing listened quietly.
"After obtaining the Book of Heaven’s Mandate, I often wonder if those failed dynasties failed due to the ’selection of civil and military officials’?"
"Could it be that the true essence of Divine Dynasty’s ascension should involve taking all subjects along?"
Zhao Xing felt somewhat stirred; Emperor Wu really comprehended the true essence of ascension.
The ascension version from past lives was not something achievable by one person alone!
Ji Che looked at the Book of Heaven’s Mandate floating above Huaqing Pool, with a hint of determination in his eyes: "This is my insight from comprehending the Book of Heaven’s Mandate."
"Brother, is this reason powerful enough to make everyone ascend together? After ascension, eternal life, free from illness and disaster, this goal, can it unite everyone?"
Ascension cannot produce eternal life, it merely possesses this possibility... Zhao Xing thought silently. But he did not correct it, he just nodded: "It can achieve half."
"Half?" Ji Che looked at Zhao Xing in surprise.
"Che, have you thought about it, this is ultimately an elusive thing; before truly seeing hope, bottom-level officials have a lifespan of only one or two centuries, they simply cannot see hope."
"So I say, it can only achieve half."
Ji Che nodded: "Then if ascension cannot be achieved, Great Zhou will experience an unprecedented great catastrophe in a few hundred years?"
Zhao Xing thought of the catastrophe Tian Yan spoke of before his passing: "Perhaps two more percent of hope can be added."
Ji Che nodded: "I have only obtained three useful pieces of information now."
"First is the ’true essence of ascension’, this is my own insight, not only the royal family should strive, all subjects must strive together to increase the hope of ascension."
"Second is the Primordial Qi Tide, this is both a disaster and a once-in-a-millennia opportunity; the more advanced Spiritual Energy than Primordial Qi will appear on a large scale, the limits of heaven and earth will be broken, whether it’s the lifespan, realm, number of powerful beings of all living creatures, all will grow substantially. Whoever seizes the initiative will dominate destiny."
"Third is the Southern Barbarian Sacred Mountain, this is one of the conditions for ascension; this point aligns with both my father’s and my own understanding. Only by ascending this highest mountain of Xuanhuang Realm can one know what to do next."
"I understand."
Ji Che looked at Zhao Xing with some anticipation: "Brother, before he left, father said only you can understand me, understand my aspirations... Can you truly understand?"
Emperor Jing said this too?
Zhao Xing earnestly nodded: "I believe! I saw some peculiar phenomena in the Dragon Court, perhaps related to the ’Primordial Qi Tide.’
"Besides, my previously written ’Three Yin and Three Yang Six Qi Great Cycle Theory,’ its Grotto Heaven arithmetic Chapter’s calculations also yielded some anomalies concerning the Pocket World." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
"Perhaps, this is the reason the former emperor thought highly of me."
"Yet, this matter cannot be rushed, careful consideration is needed."
Ji Che said: "Of course, few know of these secrets, brother, you count as knowing the most."
Hearing this, Zhao Xing instantly relaxed.
He was also afraid Ji Che would recklessly forge ahead at this moment.
If he merely repeats history, the outcome for Emperor Wu and past lives will be no different.
Indeed, even during the Spiritual Energy Era, attacking the Southern Barbarians is the last step, not the first one.
But it is the most crucial step, which causes emperors of generations to first see the Southern Barbarian Sacred Mountain upon comprehending the Book of Heaven’s Mandate.
