Chapter 57: Opening the Altar for Sacrifice

Dengshan to gather spiritual excellence is open to all clerk-officials — that is to say, whether one belongs to the Agricultural Bureau, the Craftsman Workshop, the Weaving Bureau, the Martial Bureau, the Scholar Hall, the Temple of the Gods... as long as one is part of an official government department, one is eligible to participate.

"It's been lively these past two days. In the whole year, aside from the Spring Society, the Autumn Equinox Mountain-Opening is probably the liveliest." Chen Ziyu walked down the street, watching the crowds come and go, and could not help but grin.

His family ran a shop in Anping Ward, and a large flow of people meant good business — of course he was happy.

"Qian Dong, are you going to the Autumn Equinox Mountain-Opening?" Chen Ziyu glanced at Qian Dong beside him. As for Zhao Xing, he didn't even need to ask — he knew his elder brother would definitely go.

"Going. Why wouldn't I go?" Qian Dong said.

"Aren't you afraid of getting beaten black and blue? There are quite a few experts coming this year." Chen Ziyu asked.

"Me, afraid?" Qian Dong snorted. "It's precisely because there are many experts that we should go. If there were only a few, I wouldn't bother!"

"Oh? Why is that?" Chen Ziyu scratched his head in confusion.

"I've only just entered the second stage of Ju Yuan. If I were to clash with a Ju Yuan eighth- or ninth-stage expert, they'd be begging me not to die." Qian Dong puffed out his chest as he spoke.

Zhao Xing: "..."

No, wait — what exactly are you so proud of?

Chen Ziyu said, "Dongzi, Dengshan has rules that forbid killing, but you can't expect people to spare you just because you're weak, can you?"

Zhao Xing suddenly cut in: "If you really run into a Ju Yuan ninth-stage martial artist, with their superb control, they could slash you a hundred times and avoid every vital spot."

Qian Dong: "..."

"Well, I can't just not go, can I? It only happens once a year." Qian Dong was a little deflated.

"I don't recommend going. You're only at Ju Yuan second stage. If you run into a fierce beast on the spirit mountain, you'll die without even knowing how." Zhao Xing said.

"Understood, big brother."

"For this Dengshan, you must be extra careful. You're only at Ju Yuan fourth stage. If you encounter an expert, take a detour. The moment you get any harvest, come down the mountain immediately. Don't push your luck." Xue Wenzhong said with deep concern.

He had originally not recommended Zhao Xing go, but Chen Shijie held the opposite view, believing Zhao Xing had the ability to handle it. Combined with Zhao Xing's own desire to go, Xue Wenzhong was eventually persuaded.

"I understand, teacher. I'm going up the mountain just to try my luck. I'll put my own safety first, and only then seek spiritual excellence."

The Agricultural profession was somewhat disadvantaged — it was not known for combat prowess — so it was natural for Xue Wenzhong to have this worry.

After the old Agricultural official finished his instructions, he brought Zhao Xing to the study and gave him a waist-high backpack-style bamboo box.

"This is a Wen Bamboo Box. I made it myself. It preserves a batch of seeds inside."

"Among them are the 'Diamond Bamboo' and 'Evergreen Vine' you're familiar with."

"You're skilled in the Strawman Technique. After the mountain opens, don't rush up the mountain on the first day to claim the first incense. First make some strawmen for protection, then wander around the foot of the mountain."

"There's also five Divine Movement Talismans, ten Viscera-Protecting Pills, fifteen Celestial Origin Pears..." the old Agricultural official muttered as he strapped the bamboo box onto Zhao Xing's back.

"Thank you, teacher."

Zhao Xing turned around, and once the box was on his back, he felt a weight settle on his shoulders.

The bamboo box was quite heavy — just how much stuff had been packed inside?

Wen Bamboo, whose real name is Warm Bamboo, when used to make a bamboo box, can keep fruit from rotting and seeds preserved for a long time.

Dengshan to gather spiritual excellence is dangerous, so clerk-officials are not forbidden from bringing treasures — they simply cannot exceed the third rank.

Zhao Xing was considered one of the clerk-officials in Gucheng with the best chance of being appointed to office. Both Xue Wenzhong and Chen Shijie didn't want him to miss the opportunity, yet worried about his safety, so they stuffed a whole bamboo box full of things for him.

"Tomorrow a superior official from the commandery will arrive. Chen Shijie and I won't have any time to see you off. Don't overdo your training these two days either. Rest up properly." Xue Wenzhong kept nagging.

"Understood, teacher." Zhao Xing listened quietly, and only took his leave once Xue Wenzhong had finished speaking.

On the twenty-first day of the ninth month, Ji Ming, a rank-six official of the Nanyang Commandery Inspectorate, Fan Dongping, a rank-six official of the Agricultural Bureau, along with several other rank-seven and rank-eight officials from various departments, arrived at Gucheng's East Gate aboard a Flowing Cloud Flying Vessel.

Li Wenzheng led a crowd to welcome them three li outside the city, with a ceremonial escort beating gongs and drums all the way into town.

The people inside and outside the city immediately knew that important officials had arrived in Gucheng.

The clerks of the Agricultural Bureau were not of sufficient rank to take part in the welcoming party outside the city.

But by the afternoon, Fan Dongping, who belonged to the same system, came to inspect the Agricultural Bureau, giving them a chance to catch a glimpse of a rank-six expert's bearing.

"They actually sent a rank-six official. Old Chen is quite highly regarded." Zhao Xing observed from afar, standing in a tower of the Sophora Willow Court.

By rights, this wasn't a major mountain-opening year, so sending a rank-seven official to make a token appearance would have sufficed — it was just a formality after all.

If it wasn't for some other reason, then it could only be that Chen Shijie, the chief official, had enough face to be valued by those above.

"Jin Gong, you're a man of Xishan Commandery. After three years in Nanyang Commandery, have you settled in?" Fan Dongping asked with a smile.

Jin Gong was Chen Shijie's courtesy name.

Chen Shijie, half a step behind, walked alongside Fan Dongping. Hearing this, he gave a light laugh: "Thank you for your concern, my lord. Nanyang Commandery has fine mountains and waters, abundant produce. Even these hard bones of mine have grown a bit soft from the living."

Fan Dongping raised an eyebrow. "Well, well, Chen Jin Gong, you're taking a roundabout way to scold my Nanyang Commandery Agricultural officials for being pleasure-seeking and unambitious, aren't you?"

"How would I dare? Lord Fan has always been wise and valiant in my heart."

"Hahaha." Fan Dongping stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

The accompanying officials, such as Gao Li-nong, Tang Wanchun, Pang Yuan, and others, were all somewhat surprised. Why was Fan Dongping chatting with Chen Shijie so casually? Could it be that Chen Shijie really did have backing? Was Fan Dongping's presence this time because of him?

The twenty-second day of the ninth month — the Autumn Equinox.

East Lake Mountain, beneath it — the Earth Altar Plaza.

From the Mao hour onward, temple ceremonial officers were busy with arrangements here, preparing for the mountain-opening sacrifice.

Around the outer perimeter of the Earth Altar Plaza, each department had its own marker, dividing the viewing areas.

Zhao Xing had hurried to the Earth Altar Plaza early in the morning, arriving at the viewing area belonging to the Agricultural Bureau.

He saw dozens of long platforms on the Earth Altar Plaza, upon which were laid out the three sacrificial animals, jade ritual vessels, incense, candles, and yellow paper.

By the end of the Mao hour, the viewing officials and clerk-officials had gradually taken their places. There were also East Lake Army soldiers maintaining order, because there were simply too many tourists and vendors who had come to join the excitement.

At the first quarter of the Chen hour, the sacrifice officially began.

First, the temple ceremonial officer offered prayers and chanted hymns, paying respects to the various gods (the Yin Gods canonized by the imperial court), with East Lake Earl, Cao Xi, and others as the principal deities.

Next, County Magistrate Li Wenzheng took the stage. His voice, like golden chimes and jade resonance, carried for a hundred li, praying for favorable weather in Gucheng, bountiful harvests, and peace and well-being for the people of Gucheng.

After this entire sequence of procedures, it was already the first quarter of the Si hour.

But the people around only grew more numerous, never fewer.

After all, this was the grand event held but once a year.

"How is it not over yet? I'm about to fall asleep listening."

"Almost there — it's about to be the Xishan fellow's turn to take the stage."

"Shh, careful Chen Shijie hears you."

"Aren't you also calling him by name? What are you putting on?"

"..."

"Here they come!"

"Mother, look! They're about to open the mountain!"

Amid the eager anticipation of officials and commoners alike.

Gucheng's Director of the Agricultural Office, Chen Shijie, along with the other seven Agricultural Officers, ascended the Earth Altar and performed the Mountain-Opening Rite.