Chapter 539: Sea Mirage

"Chen Wujiu, take a look — what's wrong with my foot? The pain bores into the bone like a needle."

Seated inside the carriage, the First Emperor let the imperial physician Chen Wujiu lift his foot. Chen Wujiu's movements were extremely careful, trembling with trepidation, as though he were holding the most precious jade disc. After gently kneading and massaging it with his hands, he smiled and said to the First Emperor:

"Your Majesty, it's only a minor ailment, nothing serious. I fear it's from excessive fatigue on the journey and an invasion of cold qi. I shall go prepare a medicinal decoction at once for Your Majesty to soak in tonight. Once we reach the county town walls and you rest and recuperate for a few days in the traveling palace, it will gradually get better."

The First Emperor, however, was not pleased. "In Xianyang, your master Xia Wuju said that the reason my legs and feet are unwell is that I'm always sitting still and overworking myself. He said I should walk about more — like a rusted iron sword that needs a good grinding — and I'd be better in a few days. Now I've ground myself all the way from Xianyang to Jiaodong, and the pain only grows worse!"

Seeing the emperor's anger flare, Chen Wujiu hurriedly prostrated himself, his heart flustered and panicked. In his ears, it was as if endless, unceasing thunder roared, and all fifty-six thousand pores across his body suddenly tightened, afraid that one careless misstep would send him tumbling into the abyss.

Inwardly, he was crying out at the injustice of it all. What Xia Wuju had meant was that the emperor had indeed overworked himself and needed rest. But the emperor's journey out of the palace was no mere sightseeing trip — every day, he still went through every single memorial requiring his review without missing a single one. As a result, his workload had actually increased. If he could recover his health under these conditions, that would truly be the strange thing…

"Enough. Withdraw."

The First Emperor flicked his sleeve and dismissed Chen Wujiu from the carriage. Once alone, he let out a sigh.

He was forty-four years old this year. A life of wealth, honor, and supreme rank had not kept the emperor's body healthy. Every winter, his legs and feet would begin to ache piercingly, and the hearing loss in his left ear grew more severe by the day. Medicines and treatments could only manage it for a time; they could not cure him completely.

The emperor could feel it — his body was aging day by day. When his eastern tour passed by Mount Li and he saw that his own mausoleum was already half-complete, a fear unlike any he had ever known seized his heart!

Death, just like the construction schedule of that Mount Li mausoleum, seemed to be drawing nearer and nearer to him.

The First Emperor feared nothing — except death.

If, a few years ago, seeking immortals and asking after elixirs had been merely a matter of convenience, from this tour onward, the First Emperor began to regard them as a matter of the utmost importance!

Now that the Yuezhi had been swept aside and the road to the Western Regions opened, the First Emperor had dispatched Wu Shiluo to send merchant caravans to Loulan, beginning a gradual exploration and outreach to the various states of the Western Regions, while also searching for the whereabouts of the "Kingdom of the Queen Mother of the West" and the "Ruins of Kunlun."

In the west it was so, and in the east the First Emperor was unwilling to fall behind. After all, the theories of achieving immortality recounted by the fangshi masters, though not equal to that of the Queen Mother of the West, were still deeply alluring.

Though doubt still lingered in the emperor's heart — what if it were true?

The matter of the Confucian scholars' slander at the Mount Tai Feng and Shan sacrifices had made the First Emperor realize that truly unifying all under heaven would likely take no less than ten or twenty years. But did he still have that much time?

His longing for agelessness and deathlessness grew ever more urgent as the years mounted and his body grew ever more unwell…

So urgent that anyone who dared deny the existence of agelessness and deathlessness, or deny gods, immortals, and spirits in his presence, would be spurned and cold-shouldered by the emperor.

Conversely, toward mysterious fangshi masters like An Qisheng, the First Emperor no longer scoffed. This old man did possess some ability and genuine skill. He had expounded to the First Emperor the possibility of seeking longevity through the Fangxian Way, and had strongly urged the emperor to come see Cape Chengshan, at the easternmost tip of Jiaodong, saying that he would certainly not regret it.

"Indeed, this journey has not been in vain…"

For the First Emperor, this was an unforgettable stretch of travel. It was early winter, and the weather had already turned bitterly cold. Fortunately, his carriage was specially built to ward off the cold, but when he lifted the curtain to look outside, he could see that they were passing a long, narrow lake on the peninsula. The water in the lake was clean and crystal-clear, the sandy shores pure and golden, the scenery exquisite. Hot springs even billowed steam, lending a touch of warmth to the place and creating a spectacle found nowhere else:

As the First Emperor's carriage drew near, the lake in the distance seemed blanketed in a vast expanse of white, which suddenly, with a thunderous rush of wings, erupted into flight. It turned out that was no gleaming snow at all, but hundreds upon thousands of white swans wintering here!

Their aura surged to the clouds as great swans and white egrets wheeled in flight. For a moment, the First Emperor felt as though his carriage were traveling through an immortal realm…

Past Swan Lake lay the easternmost edge of the known world — Cape Chengshan.

The sheer cliffs of Chengshan twisted back upon themselves, thrusting into the sea. It was the most remote frontier region of eastern Qi, and the place in the Central Plain where the sunrise was first seen. That was why the "Sun Lord," one of the Eight Deities of Qi, was worshipped here.

The First Emperor dismounted at the Temple of the Sun Lord. The wind was so fierce he had to hold down his crown to walk. He saw how the headland of Chengshan jutted straight into the sea like the sharp tip of a lance. The seaside cliffs stood as if pared by a blade, and below them the sea waves churned and the currents raced, with breakers several zhang high crashing against the precipice — truly, a sight of terrifying waves pounding the shore. In the distance, too, vast billows surged, stretching beyond sight.

"An Qisheng, where is this 'Sea Mirage' you spoke of?"

When the wind had died down slightly, the First Emperor cast his gaze far out, but apart from the deep blue seawater, there was nothing else.

An Qisheng had used the matter of the Three Immortal Mountains to persuade the First Emperor. Had it all been his own wild fabrication, it would naturally have been difficult to win trust. But the reason such immortal mountain legends were so numerous in Yan and Qi, aside from bordering the sea — where the shifting light and shadow of sea and sky, the hazy, elusive islands, and the peril and wonder of seafaring inspired rich flights of imagination — was another important factor: the Sea Mirage…

An Qisheng had told the First Emperor that in the sea east of Chengshan, clouds and vapor would sometimes appear, taking the form of palaces, chambers, terraces and belvederes, battlements, people, chariots and horses, and official caps and canopies, all distinctly visible. There were even immortals passing through the air, and the sounds of chariots, horses, people, and livestock could be made out one by one. The locals called it the Sea Mirage.

He said that this was the immortal realm of the Three Immortal Mountains, visible to mortals yet forever out of reach. Only a virtuous sovereign like the First Emperor might perhaps be able to ascend and probe its mysteries…

Greatly intrigued, the First Emperor had made a special trip to Chengshan, hoping to encounter a Sea Mirage. Yet after waiting here a full day and night, apart from the truly magnificent sight of the sunrise over the Eastern Sea, there was not the slightest shadow of the "Sea Mirage" that An Qisheng and Lu Sheng spoke of.

Seeing the First Emperor's expression darken with displeasure, the fangshi masters had long since prepared a saving excuse: "Your Majesty, how could the Sea Mirage be visible every day? It is often only encountered once in a decade or a century. Perhaps the time has simply not yet come?"

The emperor was somewhat disappointed, but still had men clear the path ahead and personally walked to Cape Chengshan to see the stone stele erected by the people of Qi decades ago.

The wind and waves today were much smaller than yesterday. The First Emperor, leading Li Si, Ye Teng, Heifu, Ziying, and the other ministers, as well as the fangshi masters An Qisheng, Lu Sheng, Han Zhong, and the rest, trekked several hundred paces until they finally stood beneath the great stele. Only then could they clearly see the three large characters, somewhat faded by wind and rain:

"Heaven's End!"

The feeling this place gave one was indeed as if it were the end of heaven and earth. Standing atop the cliff, gazing out over the boundless sea waves, the First Emperor let out a long breath. It seemed his mood had lifted from the disappointment of waiting in vain for the Sea Mirage.

The others in his retinue, however, each harbored their own thoughts.

Lu Sheng was sizing up Heifu. He considered this man to be the true arch-enemy of the fangshi, and had been on guard the entire journey against Heifu making some underhanded move. But throughout the trip, Heifu had not rashly offered any remonstrance. Perhaps he knew that the emperor was already infatuated with this matter, and to say to his face that seeking immortals and the Dao was impossible would only backfire.

Nor had he spouted any nonsense, telling stories whose origins he could not explain at all, just to confuse and mislead.

Jiaodong was not Longxi. Here, Heifu did not have the old shaman Ya at his side to vouch for him.

The same matter, spoken from different mouths, produced vastly different effects. For instance, the matter of Mount Penglai and the immortal mountains was best told by An Qisheng, because his reputation preceded him. If you had someone else tell it, the effect would be greatly diminished.

Thus, Heifu appeared exceptionally silent, prompting Han Zhong to whisper to Lu Sheng: "This Commandant Heifu — how good it was when he cooperated with us at first. Yet now that the emperor has heard the Thousand-Year Elder's account, he has resolved to seek immortals in the Eastern Sea…"

But Lu Sheng did not believe their side had already won completely, nor did he think this Heifu had already given up entirely. The fangshi masters' plan still lacked one final move before they could seal their victory and secure the emperor's support for the sea voyage to seek immortals.

So, taking advantage of this perfectly opportune atmosphere, the fangshi masters began to petition the First Emperor to go to Langya, sacrifice to the Lord of the Four Seasons, and stay there for a period, until the coming spring, when they could board towered ships, set sail, and search for the Three Immortal Mountains!

This was a venomous scheme to lure the tiger from its mountain. Jiaodong was Heifu's territory, and many things were difficult to accomplish here. But Langya was different — that was the fangshi masters' new main base. Their schemes, their counsel to the First Emperor — there, Heifu's reach would fall short…

At this moment, Heifu, who had remained silent for a long while, finally spoke. He stepped forward and reported:

"Your Majesty, the sea bandits still hold out on the islands off the various commanderies of Qi, raiding the coast from time to time. How can we search for immortal mountains with any peace of mind? Furthermore, the ocean is vast and boundless, the wind and waves immense. Once lost, returning is difficult. I have heard that the son of a thousand gold pieces does not sit beneath the eaves, and the son of a hundred gold pieces does not lean over a railing. Those who propose this truly harbor sinister intentions!"

"Is sweeping out the sea bandits and clearing the islands not the very duty of the Governor of Jiaodong?"

Seeing Heifu take the bait, Lu Sheng sneered inwardly and immediately stepped forward to advise: "Your Majesty, why not simply have the Governor of Jiaodong attack and destroy the sea bandits before spring? We subjects can then escort Your Majesty out to sea — it will not be too late!"

The First Emperor frowned and looked at Heifu. "Clear out the sea bandits before spring — Heifu, can you accomplish this?"

"I fear not."

Heifu reported truthfully: "Your Majesty, three feet of ice is not formed in a single day. When Qi fell, the Marshal of Yongmen took the Qi naval forces out to sea, leaving the court not a single plank. Over the past few years, the various Tian houses have been secretly communicating with them, supplying coin and grain. On the other side of the sea, there is also the Dongyi chieftain Canghai Jun, who shelters remnant scholars of the Six States, plotting day and night to restore their kingdoms… Compared to this, Jiaodong lacks both ships and soldiers. To completely purge the sea bandits cannot be done in less than a year or half a year!"

"Then I shall give you one year!"

The First Emperor was not a patient man. His face cold, he said: "If within one year the bandits are not swept away, then the Governor of Jiaodong can be replaced by someone else!"

"Aye!"

The emperor then looked at the fangshi masters, who were gloating over this misfortune. "The Governor of Jiaodong says the ocean is vast and boundless, and ships easily lose their way. The Qin naval forces have also never ventured deep into it. What countermeasures do you have?"

Lu Sheng hurriedly said: "As for matters of orientation at sea, we subjects were just about to recommend a person to Your Majesty. With this person present, even on the boundless ocean, one would absolutely never lose one's bearings."

"Who?"

"A man from Langya, Xu Shi! Xu Shi is also a fangshi, but what he studied is the art of observing stars and discerning directions. He has sailed out to sea dozens of times. He can serve as a guide, taking boys and girls to sea to scout the way for Your Majesty."

Scholar Lu pointed toward the sea route off Chengshan Cape. "Your Majesty, Xu Shi is coming from Langya today to pay his respects to the Heavenly Countenance. He will arrive by boat at the hour of wu!"

"Good." Qin Shi Huang's expression eased somewhat. He sat for a while in the pavilion, also wishing to see what sort of person this Xu Shi was.

Anqi Sheng and Scholar Lu exchanged a glance, secretly thinking that their scheme was now completely successful! Han Zhong's eyes carried a hint of mockery as he watched Heifu silently withdraw to the side. This darling of His Majesty had utterly lost face today.

Zhang Cang grew frantic at the sight. He came over and said anxiously, "Heifu, you and I are indeed the same — mere remonstrating ministers. Haven't you just walked straight into the fangshi's trap? If you cannot purge the sea bandits within a year, won't you be found guilty?"

Heifu paid it no mind and laughed. "My guilt is a matter for a year from now. But the guilt of certain people — that is a matter of mere moments…"

Zhang Cang was baffled. "What do you mean by that?"

Heifu raised his head to look at the sun and laughed. "The fangshi's stratagem is link after link. First, have Scholar Lu, Han Zhong, and the rest urge His Majesty to come east. Anqi Sheng prepared early, hiding on Zhifu Island, and swayed His Majesty with talk of the Three Immortal Mountains. Finally, have Xu Shi — the one who can turn the sea voyage into reality — appear drifting in on his boat, so His Majesty believes without doubt. That way, everything is ready, lacking only the east wind. What a pity, though…"

"What a pity that in a chess game like this, if one point is not in place, the whole board is lost. The fangshi calculated too shrewdly, too meticulously, yet they easily overlooked one thing — what to do if something unexpected happened to Xu Shi…"

Clearly, this "something unexpected" was inextricably tied to him, Heifu. Heifu looked at the fangshi, who wore smug expressions, convinced everything was under their control, craning their necks toward the sea as they awaited Xu Shi's arrival. He lowered his voice and said to Zhang Cang:

"Let me put it this way — never mind the hour of wu today, even if it were the hour of wu tomorrow, that Xu Shi would absolutely never arrive!"

"Speak of the sea market and the sea market does not appear; boast of Xu Shi and Xu Shi misses his appointed time. Do they truly think our Majesty has a good temper, tolerant of being toyed with time and again? If this is not the crime of deceiving the sovereign, then what else could it be?!"

(End of chapter)