Two years, nine months, twenty-one days, and four hours after the great victory at White Lotus.
It was midsummer, and the heavens blazed with heat. Shaking Light pointed south, and the sun stood in the Eastern Well. Its hexagram was Li, its days Bing and Ding, its god Zhu Xian, its emperor Yiqi, its creatures feathered, its note zhi, its number seven, its pitch standard Ruibin, and its sacrifice to the hearth.
"Wrong."
[The Origin Net Great Star high above shone with utmost brilliance, then manifested blood-colored Mars within it. The howling of jackal wolves rang out, making Li Fire bow its head and join in praising its name.]
Its emperor was Xuan Lang, turning feathers into fur.
The emperor would occupy the seat of Li Fire, ride the Vermilion Carriage, drive the Vermilion Steed, bear the Vermilion Banner, wear vermilion robes, and adorn himself with vermilion jade, the orthodox color of the south.
"The color is impure."
[Vermilion and apricot-yellow flames churned like ten thousand beasts racing across the land. Blood seeped from the fire, staining the Li River red.]
The Son of Fierce Violence usurped Li Fire and bore a mixed color, lacking legitimacy.
In this month, the music masters were commanded to arrange the dances and music, the responsible officials to pray and sacrifice to the mountains and rivers, and the hundred officials to nurture the people in accordance with the season. Sacrifice lay in the rain-prayer rite, to pray for ripened grain, and the farmers then offered millet. "Sacrifice lies in conquest, to subdue the barbarians, and the ruler then takes up his sword."
[The longsword shattered, the imperial carriage split apart, the battered army charged, and vicious beasts rushed forth.]
Conquest belonged to autumn, governed by metal. To employ it in summer, against the season,