Chapter 1357
Hemp cloth fluttered, the rock yellow and white, sunlight shining down, the whole thing shimmering with a thin layer of golden light.
Smoke and dust clung to the rock carvings, rising and swirling in the river wind, monkeys clinging to iron nails, howling and swaying, one after another jumping off the cliff.
Carriages and horses halted, pedestrians stopped, potato chips tumbling in the oil pot, fishing boats on the river creating ripples, all activity coming to a standstill.
On the deck.
The Holy Emperor, Holy Empress, Prince Su, Prince Chong, Grand Steward, Su Gu Shan, Xu Yue Long, Tian Yu Wei, Pingyang Prefecture, the people of Yixing County, tourists from Tiannanhaibei and even Nanjian and Beiting—everyone, every beast, eyes wide open.
The pleasure barges stretched undulating, the Holy Emperor's vessel still several li from Pingyang Mountain, yet still able to see clearly the colossal "Holy Emperor" on the mountain.
Crowned with imperial pendants, features square and upright, five senses firm, eyes seeming to hold sharp light.
Beneath the towering human head lay broad shoulders and chest, vast and majestic.
Most remarkable was that this towering, divine sculpture, from the chest downward, was not a complete human form but gradually split into sets of weapons, from dense to sparse, finally trickling into the mountain, merging with exquisite ingenuity.
Emperor Rock!
Of course it wasn't just a single head displayed, a lone skull—too strange, inevitably giving thoughtful people material to work with; Liang Qu made a half-length statue, but a half-length statue lacked the shock of a single head, so from the chest down he, in memory, "referenced" and "studied" a bit, ultimately letting A Fei spit black mist to perfectly sculpt it!
The holy statue stood upon the cliff, before the main road.
Southbound and northbound, none can fail to see it.
Silence.
Observing the dazed reactions of those around, Liang Qu slightly swung his fist.
Shocked, aren't you?
But it's not over yet!
"Round Head."
On Qingstone Street, Round Head waved his fin and chopped downward.
Gazing at the massive sculpture in a daze, Long Pingjiang, Long Pinghe, Quan Linghan and others suddenly had their thoughts flow freely, understood the prior command, with a plop fell to their knees, shouting loudly, heads striking the ground.
"Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
"Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
One sentence shook, awakening those lost in dreams.
The dazed Pingyang locals, northern and southern travelers, suddenly enlightened, in the utmost shock, people streamed from both sides of the road to the center, kneeling in a mass, merging into it.
"Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
"The holy statue, it is the holy statue indeed!"
"Great-grandfather, be careful."
Already over eighty, steps unsteady, sometimes muddled, Chen Zhaoan burst from his old home, set down his Huang Huali cane, staggered and stumbled to kneel on the ground, nearly falling, fortunately his great-grandson grabbed him.
The black crowd surged forth like waves hitting the shore, only scattered Nanjian and Beiting cavalry, reacting "slow" by half a beat, became reefs in this great wave, standing in place, they stood in the kneeling crowd, finally not daring to defy the trend, only able to follow the collapse, all kneeling together.
Approaching the River God Festival, the people of Yixing County were of such complexity, but just now, at this moment.
Thick crowds came onto the long street. Whether men or women, old or young, whether Nanjian or Beiting people, or dragon folk and merfolk————all knelt in unison!
Under heaven, none but the king's land; to the shores of the earth, none but the king's subjects!
Commander Meng Qiang of the Tian Yu Wei reacted first, spear in hand, with a plop knelt on one knee, shouting loudly: "Long live Your Majesty!"
On the deck, the Tian Yu Wei encircling in a ring followed the commander, kneeling on one knee, responding in unison: "Long live Your Majesty!"
The Empress bowed slightly, smiling: "He Xi Your Majesty, congratulations Your Majesty, this is guarding the north and looking south, peace throughout the realm."
"He Xi Your Majesty, congratulations Your Majesty, guarding the north and looking south, peace throughout the realm!"
As if a hammer had struck heavily upon the heart.
Like in the evening sunset, a monk pulling the mallet, striking the bronze bell.
Threads of ripples spread across the heart lake, undulating. Mountains and forests of leaves rustled as they rubbed.
This, this————
Prince Su, the Dragon-Elephant King, the Prince of the Clan——even if the sculpture's subject was not himself, as an onlooker, all his body hair stood on end, raising gooseflesh all over.
"How did you think of this?"
Prince Chong had not yet recovered from this morning's shock when another wave of blows came.
In just one day, he actually felt the double impact of his dual identity as a seeker of the Dao and a subject, extreme contrast!
Why could someone possess such formidable ability and talent yet be so————fawning.
Liang Qu drew a deep breath, voice like a great bell: "The Holy Dynasty's territory surpasses antiquity, overlooking the northern deserts all belong to the Central Plains. Sitting in the Ming Hall to pacify the realm, the Emperor sends virtuous ministers to pacify this land.
Your Majesty, this is the surprise brought to you by the people of Pingyang Prefecture! The first emperor through all ages! The highest mountain, the longest river of the Great Shun!
Such a statue cannot express even one ten-thousandth of Your Majesty's glory! Cannot express even one ten-thousandth of my reverence for Your Majesty!
This sculpture is ninety-five zhang in both length and width, symbolizing the supremacy of nine-five, its base consisting of weapons, symbolizing Your Majesty sweeping the universe, south and north campaigns, establishing peace. Its seat faces west, gazing east, symbolizing the rising sun, full of vigor. Lastly, gazing upon the Jianghuai————"
The Holy Emperor held his breath.
Emperor Rock.
Liang Qu had told him more than once that he sometimes indeed indulged in such thoughts, but such things were impossible to do, if recorded in the daily log, who knows how future generations would mock it; just now the hemp cloth fluttered, eye contact for a moment, even slightly embarrassed, resenting how he truly made it happen.
But now, looking at the dense crowds on the street, backs bared to heaven, looking at the surrounding Tian Yu Wei shouting loudly————
Silence.
Long silence.
Banners fluttered in the wind.
After the Grand Scholar and various officials were shocked and moved, they gazed strangely at Liang Qu.
Su Gu Shan's teeth ached.
This brat, what does he stuff in his head every day?
The first emperor of all ages? How could he be so good at flattery? Other geniuses would rather have their nostrils upturned, but he, a dignified Wu Sheng, Prince, and fledgling immortal on the path to ascension, spends all day pondering these things. With so many Martial Saints watching, he feels no shame—truly because he has real ability, has laid down sweat-and-blood merits, and possesses extraordinary talent; otherwise, he would have entered the *Biography of Treacherous Ministers* to be criticized for generations to come.
Forget it.
This statue is really damn majestic, I'm even envious of it.
Many things, once done, everyone thinks nothing of it, but truly being the first to do it, who could have thought of it? Now Yixing has completely become a powerful engine of the Great Shun, placing such a huge statue of the Holy Emperor here, people coming from south and north, everyone can see it, tsk tsk tsk.
Zhang Longxiang gazed at the sculpture for a long time, then chuckled and shook his head.
He is already young enough, but compared to Liang Qu, he has to admit that at over a hundred years old, he has lost the carefree ease of his youth.
The river wind flapped fiercely, suddenly there was no movement on the deck. Liang Qu hesitated, strange, why is there no sound? Could it be that I flattered the horse and ended up patting its butt?
That shouldn't be.
Last time discussing the Divine Power Edict, he had already mentioned erecting a statue, wasn't he quite happy about it?
"Your Majesty?"
"Cough." The Holy Emperor coughed once, opened his mouth, then didn't know what to say, where to start, finally took a deep breath, "This statue — Liang Qing, how did you make it? Why the eyes — "
Everyone looked up, likewise noticing this.
The sculpture's gaze is very spirited, almost like a living person.
Even as the ship moves forward, it keeps looking at them.
"Ha." Liang Qu invigorated himself, "Your Majesty, please look closely, in those eyes, it is actually a protruding hollowed-out 'ten' character!"
The Holy Emperor narrowed his eyes, and indeed discovered, in those black, spirited eyeballs, there is a protruding 'ten' character made of stone.
Liang Qu spoke eloquently: "This way, the area around the eyes is all shadow, so unless observed up close, it looks like a beam of light, symbolizing eternal light, forever leading the Great Shun people forward! Moreover, no matter from which angle you look, it seems to be gazing at yourself, symbolizing the Emperor's grace, bathing every subject!"
"Good."
"Good!"
Saying one 'good' still felt insufficient, the Holy Emperor added another.
Immediately following.
"Good good good!"
"Bring the ship closer, quickly bring the ship closer." The Holy Emperor personally directed.
"Your Majesty — "
The Holy Emperor turned his head at the sound, startled awake Meng Qiang and other Tianwei Guards and big and small officials still kneeling on the deck: "Get up quickly, get up quickly!"
Liang Qu beamed with joy.
The barge docked, the gangway was erected.
Scenery along the way was hardly noticed, the Holy Emperor kept striding forward, raising his hand, letting the people straighten up, he passed through the blue stone street, passed through the grove, and ascended Pingyang Mountain.
The outer appearance of the temporary palace was orderly, the houses couldn't be built with flowers, and before the temporary palace, there was again a large, level platform, extending out like a diving board, square and proper, slightly upturned.
This is precisely the top part of the imperial crown.
The crown beads, namely the "Heaven-leveling Crown", the emperor's crown, the top has "extension", shaped like a long board, with jade strings "beads" hanging down front and back.
The Son of Heaven's crown, vermilion and green algae, twelve beads, princes nine, intended to "obscure brightness", and now it just so happens, turned into a flat platform.
The Holy Emperor did not enter the house, stepped onto the platform, stood facing forward.
Liang Qu and others waited respectfully outside the platform, not daring to step onto it.
The river wind surged, very cool, flowing along the foot surface, the trees on the mountain rustled, lush green, from the oily sheen on the leaf surface turning into a pale green underneath.
Liang Qu shouted: "Your Majesty, this platform, is the best view of the scenery in all directions, Yixing County laid bare, one can see the sparkling ripples, and at dusk, one can again see fishing boats singing evening songs, waiting until after five days, when the River God Festival arrives, Your Majesty may sit here, watch the entire process."
"Is that the Yingchun Tower over there?" The Holy Emperor pointed to the tall building standing far away.
"Exactly."
"Is it currently showing the cloth shadow play or — "
"It is the cloth shadow play, but it's the trailer of the cloth shadow play, plus this year's competition warm-up, this year is already the third round — "
"
"What is the trailer?"
"It is — "
"That is your Wang Fu."
"Exactly, the waterfall in the pond, was a gift bestowed by Your Majesty in the past."
Lanzhou is not Liang Qu's home turf, but upon reaching Pingyang, upon reaching Yixing, nobody is unaware.
The Holy Emperor asked one by one, Liang Qu answered one by one.
The river wind brushed the Holy Emperor's hair tips, the sense of achievement from hard governance of the territory, at this moment, unexpectedly manifested itself in a completely novel way!
"What a delight, what a delight! Liang Qing, you've done well, done well! Full of vitality, myriad things competing to sprout."
"No, it is Your Majesty! It is Your Majesty's outline, Your Majesty's leadership, that enables me to keep advancing on the correct path!"
"Hahaha, hahaha."
The Holy Emperor laughed loudly, then looked ahead: "The scenery is truly nice, today's memorials? Bring the table over, I want to review them here, look here!"
"Quick, the table!"
The palace attendants bustled about in a flurry, the grand scholars followed suit and became busy.
The fat fish stayed in the corner, holding a small notebook, scribbling and drawing.
"The people of Great Shun keep doing these useless things, extravagant waste, flashy but impractical, not like my tribal chiefs, they will surely fail sooner or later!
"
The crowd surged, the southern border horse merchant spat a mouthful of saliva, pulled his horses, was about to leave, when two martial academy disciples came weaving through, asking for names.
The horse merchant was a bit dazed, yet dared not offend, cautiously reported his name.
The left-side disciple immediately recorded it, then tore off a slip of paper and stuck it on the horse's head.
"Outsiders spitting anywhere, fined three wen! I have recorded your license plate and name, go to the government office to pay the fine, if overdue by three days and you don't come, your license plate will be revoked!"
"?"
The horse merchant pinched the slip of paper, muttered "bad luck," waited for the two martial hall disciples to leave, hitched his horse, squeezed through the crowd toward the waterway, showed his pass, transported goods, and later went to the prefectural office to pay the fee.
Six days remained until the River God Festival, but this year the Sacred Emperor had arrived, and the number of visitors exceeded previous years by several tens of percent, shoulder to shoulder, foot after foot; even the wide blue-stone streets were somewhat congested, and walking was arduous for him.
Suddenly.
Ahead, there was a commotion; the Southern Frontier people felt they were constantly being jostled, everyone gathered in front, and through the gaps, they could faintly see officials posting a notice. He wanted to go see it, but couldn't push through, so he could only prick up his ears and strain to hear the officials' announcement amid the boiling din of voices.
"Effective today, the Great Fu Pingyang ten-day period, until June tenth, the vortex waterway: for cargo transport under one hundred catties, fees are halved upon reaching Pingyang! Three-foot-tall children, sixty-year-old elders, all exempt!"
"Heng!"
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
The Southern Frontier horse merchant's ears rang.
"Your Majesty, this year's new films— which one would you like to watch? No need to go to the Jiangchuan Theater; I've reserved a viewing hall for you in the traveling palace."
"Isn't the new film premiering tomorrow? And then———— Bing Huo Dang?"
"Ah, Your Majesty, you opened Jinxiang, and when will it be released— or not released?"
"This is where sky meets water; the day after tomorrow, the river otter competition will be held, selecting top-tier master smiths. Would Your Majesty and the Empress like to serve as judges?"
"Phoenix Immortal Fish, one of the Eight Delicacies of Jianghuai; Your Majesty, eat lotus seeds— my Lady picked them personally."
The River God Festival is on June sixth, unchanged year after year. These past few days, Liang Qu has entirely served as a companion for play, displaying the various changes of Guangyi Xing.
The accompanying officials were dazzled; although they had long heard that Guangyi Xing's fiefdom developed unusually, rapidly changing day by day, seeing it with their own eyes still left them deeply shaken.
The Prince of Chong was even more dazzled and overwhelmed.
All are fiefdoms, yet his Nanhai Commandery is even larger, obtained only after becoming the Prince of Nanhai; how come, when compared, it seems like a remote corner of Huaxiang?
Seekers of the Dao, ministers aside, the Way of Kingship suffers another blow.
At dusk, the Jianghuai waters shimmered with scattered gold.
On the fourth day, the Empress expressed a wish to see the frog clan's Heaven-Reaching Lotus; Liang Qu immediately communicated with the Frog King, arranged his own Fortune Treasure Boat, and during this time summoned the hedgehog.
"How many people?"
The hedgehog flipped through the Juan Sect records: "More than sixty percent above last year, inns are fundamentally insufficient; the day after tomorrow, during the River God Festival, people still—"
"—increasing."
"Encourage the Guangyi Xing villagers to open more of their homes, even allowing others to stay, earn a little extra income; many are not again— high officials and nobles, not demanding how their lodging should be; if none nearby, go to other villages of otters, and there are also the martial hall dormitories, temporarily opened to the public, but do not mix— designate a specific area, assign more martial hall disciples to patrol."
Liang Qu reviewed the hedgehog's summary point by point, tried to offer solutions, watched the street crowds surge, shoulder to shoulder, carriages and horses flowing, his heart surging; he had actually considered that the Sacred Emperor's southern tour would bring him benefits, but the gains in his plan were absolutely not immortal pills.
Five fief kings, the Sacred Emperor and Empress, a full cabinet of ministers, the Tianwei Guard defeated a thousand, countless extra visitors——
Damn it, how much patronage does this require!
Last year's Guangyi Xing sacrifice, if I recall correctly, was roughly in the early twenties, the highest among the thirteen fiefdoms; this year it certainly won't be lower, and might even——
"Can we not exceed one hundred in one go?"
His heart pounded, Liang Qu licked his lips.
Communicating with Ze Ding.
【Ding Master: Liang Qu】
【Refining Refined Refined Ze Ling: Water Ape Great Sage (Deep Orange)】
【Ze Essence: Thirty-nine million nine hundred sixty-five thousand】
【Refined Refined Ze Ling's Favors: Martial Dao Communicates with Divinity, Tenth Hall Heavy (River Lord Emperor); Azure Dragon Pattern: Ten Layers; Heavenly Wu Yu Pattern:
Two Layers】
【River Governance Degree: 5.4 (River Favor Degree: 83.4712)】
"One hundred favors, one point of governance, having collided with over eighty, this year at least we can reap two points!"
Ten points of governance degree, and one can link to the inverted stupor fruit!
"Ashui, hurry up, done yet? The River God Festival is the day after tomorrow; after finishing, hurry back." Ko Wenbin waved and called out.
"Here!"
June sixth.
Misty waves vast and boundless.
The first thread of morning golden light pierced the thin mist, illuminating the mountain body, gilding it brilliantly, dazzling light individual, not clearly seen. The sun gradually rose, sunlight gradually slanted, golden light retracted, true form revealed.
The holy image gazed eastward.
>
End of Chapter
