Chapter 116: Encountering The Black Water River On The Road
However, Ao Tu appeared in a dream to that official late at night.
The official heard Ao Tu say he was the Dragon King, so he mustered his courage and looked carefully.
He saw Ao Tu wearing a black divine robe, with a crown adorned with alligator pearls on his head, two dragon horns, a somewhat dark face, and fangs slightly protruding, but at least he had a nose and eyes; upon closer inspection, he really looked like a Dragon King.
The official then bowed and said, “This official meets the Dragon God.”
Ao Tu said, “No need for formalities. This King has come to tell you that soon a Holy Monk from the Great Tang will arrive here and will build a great bridge over the Black Water River. You must welcome him properly and not neglect him.”
The official said in surprise and joy, “This matter is really true!”
Ao Tu said, “What, you are unwilling?”
The official said:
“Willing! Willing! This is a great achievement! Dragon God, you may not know that our country is connected east to west, but separated by the river. The Che Chi Kingdom to the west has many mountains and little land, lacking grain but abundant in copper and iron; our country has few mountains and much land, producing plenty of grain, but lacking copper and iron.
Therefore, the King often trades with the Che Chi Kingdom, but regrets the river obstructing the way, as merchant caravans detour upstream through the Fadi Kingdom and suffer repeated exploitation. If the great bridge is built, it will truly benefit generations to come!”
Ao Tu said, “I do not know the affairs of your country. I only want the great bridge built, and a river god temple erected beside it for the common people to worship.”
The official said, “Certainly, certainly. This official will immediately submit a document to report to the King.”
Ao Tu nodded and his form retreated.
That official awoke from the dream, feeling covered in cold sweat. Outside, roosters were crowing and dogs barking; the common people in the village had taken up their farm tools and gone to the fields to till and work.
As the saying goes, those who live by the mountains eat from the mountains, those who live by the water eat from the water.
Generally speaking, common people living by the mountains make a living by gathering herbs and hunting; those living by the water make a living by catching fish and shrimp.
But the common people by the Black Water River were not like this.
This was because the river water was unusual; some common people had died after drinking it. Thus, the common people passed down that eating fish and shrimp from the river would cause one to weaken and die.
Therefore, the common people dared not eat the fish and shrimp from the river water.
But in fact, there was no such thing.
The reason the Black Water River is black is only because of the riverbed soil, making it turbid.
Although drinking the river water directly over a long time would indeed cause one to weaken and die, this is because the river water is too turbid, mixed with mud and sand, and not because the river itself is strange.
Eating fish and shrimp from the river is harmless.
The fish and shrimp in the river are exceptionally fat and plump, fresh and delicious; Ao Tu has always eaten produce from the Black Water River.
Unfortunately, the common people will not believe this.
Having lived here for a long time, the idea that the river water is poisonous has taken deep root. Drinking the river water will kill people, and naturally eating too much fish and shrimp from the river will also kill people.
Even if a few individuals accidentally discover the truth, most people still do not believe it, and the caught fish and shrimp cannot be sold.
To truly dispel this rumor, someone with sufficiently high status must publicly verify it in front of everyone to clear it up.
After that official awoke, he recalled the dream, hurriedly took his runners and left the village, returned to the city, and reported upward.
After more than a month.
On this day, the sound of gongs and drums resounded through this neglected village.
Some unaware villagers curiously came out to watch.
They saw outside: banners connected, banners and canopies reflecting each other. Gongs sounding to clear the way, voices clamoring; attendants following, red umbrellas tilted, displaying official might.
The Imperial Envoy sat upright in an eight-carrier sedan, with attendants on left and right looking arrogant, some holding palace fans, some carrying seal boxes, some wearing waist knives, some carrying documents.
Local officials followed on the sides, landlords and gentry burning incense to lead the way.
Upon arriving at the riverbank of the Black Water River, the local officials had already prepared the sacrificial platform and incense table, three sacrifices and five grains, clear wine and beautiful jade, boy and girl, young woman of marriageable age.
On the left were more than ten monks, on the right about ten Taoist priests.
The Imperial Envoy properly alighted from the sedan, recited the sacrificial text, worshiped the river god, and first threw the three sacrifices and five grains into the river.
In the river, two little tigers and two little wolves were already waiting eagerly.
As soon as the three sacrifices fell, Tiger Brother opened his big mouth, seized a yellow ox, and swallowed it. Tiger Brother was a step slow but also seized a white sheep and swallowed it.
The two little wolves each grabbed the fat pig and shared it.
The Imperial Envoy then ordered the clear wine and beautiful jade to be thrown into the river.
This time the two little wolves were quick; one snatched a jar of fine wine, the other a jade bi disc.
The Imperial Envoy then ordered the boy and girl to be pushed into the river.
The Imperial Envoy’s men picked up the boy and girl.
It was a three-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, each wearing festive clothes. The two children, hearing the gongs and drums, were happily laughing. Not yet steady on their feet, they naturally did not know to be afraid.
The soles of the two children’s feet were tightly bound together with red cord, with two copper ingots hanging from the cord; this was called “sinking sacrifice for solid offering.” Actually, it was to prevent the bodies from floating to the surface.
In the Eastern Land, such sacrifices mostly use clay figures instead, and real people are basically not used. But in the various countries of the Western Ox Continent, they are clearly more devout to the gods, so they still use real people for sacrifice.
The Imperial Envoy’s men forcefully threw the boy and girl into the river, and the two children quickly sank to the bottom.
At this moment, the river water parted, and Ao Tu flew out from the river, holding a boy in his left hand and a girl in his right.
The two children were not yet old enough to understand, thought it fun, laughed happily, were not afraid of Ao Tu’s appearance, and even climbed on Ao Tu’s arms.
But the Imperial Envoy was greatly startled, and upon seeing Ao Tu’s appearance clearly, hurriedly led the officials to kneel and worship the Dragon God.
Ao Tu’s voice spread across the four fields, saying:
“Rise. In the future, do not use living people for sacrifice anymore. To worship true gods, only sincere hearts are needed, burning incense and praying is sufficient. Those that eat people are all evil gods.”
The Imperial Envoy hurriedly bowed and said, “Yes, yes, yes! We will remember the Dragon God’s words!”
Ao Tu cast a spell and sent the two children back to their homes.
Seeing this, the Imperial Envoy pointed to the young woman and said, “Dragon God, this is the beautiful woman we selected for you; she is still a virgin and was meant to be offered to you as a concubine. What do you think?”
Ao Tu looked at the young woman; she was indeed very beautiful.
The young woman, seeing Ao Tu look at her, shrank back in fright, only because Ao Tu’s appearance was inhuman, with a dark face and protruding fangs, not very good-looking.
It was also thanks to his current appearance.
If it were his original true form, it would probably be even more troublesome.
Ao Tu said, “There is a difference between immortals and mortals; true gods do not take mortals as concubines. Send this woman back.”
Hearing this, the Imperial Envoy hurriedly sent men to return the woman.
Ao Tu said to the Imperial Envoy, “You have sacrificed to this King; what do you seek?”
The Imperial Envoy hurriedly said, “Great Dragon King, Your Majesty was overjoyed to hear of the bridge-building matter from your dream and specially appointed this official as Imperial Envoy to sacrifice to the Dragon God, to thank him for his great kindness. This bridge-building is truly a great fortune for the country, a great blessing for the altars of soil and grain, benefiting the common people, a great act of grace and virtue admired by all!”
Ao Tu said, “No need for more words. This King does not do it for your country’s altars of soil and grain, but truly for the incense and fire of the myriad people. After the great bridge is built, a river god temple must be erected beside it for the common people to worship.”
The Imperial Envoy hurriedly said, “Certainly, certainly. This official will certainly report to His Majesty and have a grand temple built by imperial decree for the Dragon God for sacrifice.”
Ao Tu said, “Whether the temple is large or small is useless to this King; it all depends on whether the common people are devout. If the common people devoutly pray, I will have incense and fire to consume and will bless both banks with favorable weather, everyone safe and sound. If the common people silently pray, I lack incense and fire to consume, but there is no sin or punishment, so it is peaceful. If the common people wail and lament, pray on the surface but curse heaven and resent earth in reality, heaven will know, issue a decree to punish me; if I am punished, it will affect the dragon body, destroy the great bridge, unleash floods for ten thousand li, and submerge your country’s altars of soil and grain. You must report these words to the King without error, and do not blame this King for not warning you in advance.”
