Fencing and Sacrificing to Heaven

"Damn these commoners, always plotting against Brother Zheng! Don't they know walls have eyes and ears? Do they think saying something means no one will see or hear it?"

"Over a billion people in our Great China are watching! So these Confucian scholars have lost their horses!"

"So accurate, so accurate!"

"Corrupt scholars!"

The netizens, listening to the hushed whispers of the Confucian scholars, became indignant.

Brave Niu Niu interjected dismissively, "What right do they have to represent Heaven? Why do they assume Heaven won't approve of Brother Zheng?"

"Only the unknown gods can represent Heaven, can they? Do they think they can speak for the gods on their own?"

This statement was instantly met with widespread agreement.

"Exactly, exactly!"

"Add your ID number~"

"Agreed!"

After criticizing the presumptuous Confucian scholars, some netizens suddenly became curious.

"What's the point of the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai?"

"Why Mount Tai specifically?"

Some people expressed their confusion.

Soon, netizens started explaining.

"It's quite simple."

A netizen named Shiyi explained, "The ancients worshipped the East, the heavens, the sun, and high mountains."

"Mount Tai is the foremost of the Five Great Mountains, and it's the tallest mountain in the eastern part of the Central Plains. From there, one can see the sun rise first and also allow the emperor to communicate closely with Heaven."

"Those Confucian scholars believe it's the tallest mountain in the world, so the highest emperor on Earth should also go to this tallest mountain to worship the supreme Heaven, the Heavenly Emperor, the Lord on High."

"To gain Heaven's recognition, to prove he is the Son of Heaven, and someone who governs the world on behalf of Heaven, meaning the Mandate of Heaven, divinely appointed!"

"Emperor Qin's visit to Mount Tai should be about gaining Heaven's recognition, and then telling all the people that his imperial rule is reasonable, legal, and authoritative!"

As the netizen Shiyi explained, many who were unclear suddenly came to a realization and understood the significance of the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai.

The meaning of proving oneself as the Son of Heaven?

Netizen Shiyi continued, "Of course, not just anyone can perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai."

"Mount Tai was considered by the ancients to be a place that directly connected to the Emperor's throne, becoming a divine mountain worshipped by the people and where emperors would make offerings. There's a saying, 'When Mount Tai is at peace, the four seas are at peace.'"

"During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Huan of Qi, who united the feudal lords nine times and brought order to the world, wanted to perform the Fengshan ceremony, but the famous minister Guan Zhong stopped him, saying that since auspicious signs were absent, it meant the Heavenly Emperor did not approve. There was also a journey to Mount Tai by the Ji Sun family of Lu, but Confucius mocked them."

"These events show they were not qualified, and the Fengshan ceremony cannot be performed casually! However, Emperor Qin is clearly qualified, hehe~"

Hearing this, the netizens burst into laughter.

"Haha, that's true."

"You're right~"

In their minds, Qin Shi Huang, who had unified the land and was the first emperor, indeed possessed this qualification. If he didn't, who else in later generations could?

As they were discussing, Ying Zheng, who had dismissed the many Confucian scholars, showed a look of helplessness.

He discussed with his civil and military officials again. Seeing that everyone still couldn't come up with a specific procedure…

"My ministers…" Ying Zheng hesitated and asked, "Since there are no established procedures, how about we proceed with the rituals for sacrificing to Heaven in my Great Qin?"

Li Si, Meng Tian, and the other ministers were stunned at first, then realized.

Since a specific plan couldn't be chosen, but solemnity was required, this method was feasible.

Everyone nodded repeatedly, and then, led by Li Si, they all shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Having received the approval of his ministers, Ying Zheng called out in a loud and majestic voice, "Guards…"

He issued his orders, sending people to prepare for the Fengshan ceremony while also informing local officials to build a road for carriages to Mount Tai.

Everyone was mobilized.

Time passed, and darkness fell.

Inside a large mansion, in a brightly lit hall, Ying Zheng, dressed in black, was kneeling behind a desk, holding a bamboo slip, seemingly reading official reports.

The netizens began to discuss.

"Emperor Qin is so diligent, still reading reports even when he's out?"

"Mmm, I heard Brother Zheng has to read the daily reports submitted to him, a total of 121 catties every day. He doesn't rest until he finishes them. I even suspect Brother Zheng might die from exhaustion?"

"Hiss, I get so annoyed just writing a bit of homework. Brother Zheng is amazing, truly powerful!"

A flood of admiring comments appeared.

However, at this moment, someone noticed that Ying Zheng's expression seemed a bit off.

Unlike the majestic and composed expression from earlier in the day, in the empty hall, his brows were furrowed, and his face showed a hint of hesitation and unease, as if he were contemplating something.

At this moment, he was so lost in thought that he even forgot to look at the bamboo slips in his hand.

"Huh? What's wrong with Brother Zheng?"

"I don't know..."

One netizen speculated, "Could it be because of what happened during the day?"

Other netizens were stunned, but upon further thought, it was indeed possible.

"It seems Brother Zheng isn't as indifferent as he appeared during the day. He casually handled the Fengshan Ceremony, but actually cared a lot about it," said a netizen named Elementary School History Graduate.

"What do you mean?" some netizens were confused.

Elementary School History Graduate explained, "Regarding this Fengshan Ceremony, there's a record from later generations that says the rituals used for the ceremony were kept secret and couldn't be recorded by the world."

"Simply put, the entire set of rituals used in the Fengshan Ceremony was hidden and not allowed to be documented."

"It's obvious that Brother Zheng has lost some of his usual confidence here in the Qi-Lu region. He's worried that the rituals he's using for Qin to worship the Heavenly Emperor might not meet the requirements of the Fengshan Ceremony, nor gain the approval of scholars from all over the land."

"He's probably also worried whether Heaven will approve of his sacrifices."

Listening to his words, the netizens selectively ignored the issue of Heaven's approval and focused on the approval of scholars from all over the land.

Some netizens were confused, "Are you talking about those Confucian scholars?"

"What do those Confucian scholars have to do with it?"

Another netizen explained, "Of course, they have something to do with it. In the eyes of those Confucian scholars and intellectuals, the Fengshan ritual is a political act that only sages who unified the world and accomplished great deeds can perform. It's extremely significant."

"And as long as the Fengshan ritual is held, it can make those intellectuals acknowledge that Qin is destined by Heaven, which can stabilize the hearts of the people."

"For example, even though the Six States have already been unified, there are still some stubborn elements below who haven't sincerely submitted."

"If the hearts of the people are stabilized, perhaps those people will give up rebelling!"

Fearing that others might not understand, he continued to explain, "Well, it's like those people in The Legend of Qin."

"Holy crap, now that you put it that way, I suddenly get it."

"666, instantly understood!"

The netizens suddenly realized.

"I originally thought Tianming and the others were quite righteous, but now it feels a bit strange."

"Same here, add one!"

At this time, Elementary School History Graduate asked curiously, "Speaking of which, the fundamental reason for the downfall of the Qin Dynasty was internal emptiness and a lack of troops to mobilize, right? It's related to the million-strong army guarding the borders, defending against the Xiongnu and other foreign tribes?"

"I've heard some stories that I don't know if they are true, but they made my body and mind tremble with excitement!"

"Legend has it that Qin Shi Huang once gave a command to the great general Wang Jian, saying that no matter what danger Qin faced, he was not allowed to return to the capital to assist the king, nor was he allowed to withdraw his troops from the border, lest the Xiongnu take the opportunity to invade the land of Huaxia?"

"Qin can perish, but Huaxia cannot!"

"And Qin Shi Huang's last words before his death..."

"I swear by the name of the First Emperor, while I live, I shall defend the territory, expand the borders, sweep away the barbarians, and establish the foundation of my Great Qin!"

"When I die, I shall transform into a dragon soul to protect Huaxia from eternal decline!"

"This oath, let the sun and moon bear witness, let heaven and earth observe, and let gods, demons, ghosts, and spirits hear it!"

As he spoke, the netizens' faces showed emotion, and their hearts were shaken. Although they didn't know if this news was true, they instantly felt a surge of passion.

With complex emotions, they looked at the hesitant, indecisive, and uneasy Qin Shi Huang, and felt a sense of regret.

"It's a pity. Sigh, looking at Brother Zheng's expression, I really want to go and comfort him, tell him he's done enough, and that future generations are also doing well."

"Yeah, it's such a shame. This is just the past being played out, and we can't influence anything."

They felt a deep regret.

Looking at Qin Shi Huang, who seemed a little lost under the lamplight, the netizens wished they could rush into the movie and have a good chat with him to comfort him.

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