Chapter 417: Shocking the Three Kingdoms Fans! Guan Yu in Cao Cao’s Tomb! (2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Wang Mang was a role model followed by many,” Luo Feng began, a chuckle rumbling in his throat. “Cao Cao, for instance, received the Nine Bestowments just as Wang Mang did. Though he didn’t usurp the throne, his son certainly did. Sun Quan followed suit, receiving the Nine Bestowments and quickly thereafter declared himself emperor. Sima Zhao was another who received these nine honors, setting the stage for his son to establish the Jin Dynasty.”
“In ancient times, ” Luo Feng continued, “rewards were given commensurate with the merits of the deeds done. However, at some point, there was nothing left to give as a reward. It was then that the Nine Bestowments emerged as a unique reward, elevating an individual’s status above any other minister.”
“But,” he added, “the bestowment of these nine honors also meant a division of imperial power. Take the Tiger Guard, for instance, one of these nine bestowments. It gave the recipient the right to maintain a private army of about a thousand men – an awe-inspiring privilege, yet one granted by imperial power. ”
Luo Feng motioned to the wooden steps in front of him, “And another of these bestowments was the ‘Na Bi.’ This meant that during court sessions, the recipient would take the stage separate from the other ministers – a VIP lane, if you will.”
As Luo Feng walked on, he could not help but laugh, “The concept of the Nine Bestowments as burial objects is fascinating. Given their intentions to usurp the throne, why include items associated with ministers?”
The path led them to a table laden with several jade pendants. The quality of the jade was impressive, and Luo Feng needed no further inspection to know that they were personal items of Cao Cao, their worth inciting jealousy in antique collectors nationwide.
“What on earth is this?” Luo Feng exclaimed as he stopped abruptly before a massive object.
His eyes widened. This was the same object he had scanned over just the previous night. A gigantic stone stood in front of him, reaching two to three meters in height. Its surface was rough yet strangely smooth, as if coated with wax. The stone was pitch black, an imposing sight.
“Is this just a rock? Why would Cao Cao include a stone amongst his burial objects? A truly unique hobby! Were stone burial objects customary during the Three Kingdoms period?”
As he moved closer and touched the stone, it confirmed his suspicions. It was indeed smooth and not coarse.
[ Ding! Meteorite! Worth 150 million! ]
Luo Feng was slightly taken aback. An iron meteorite? Why would Cao Cao posess such an object
“In ancient times,” Luo Feng pondered aloud, “Meteorites were seen as either ominous harbingers or auspicious entities. I suppose the interpretation depended heavily on the masters’ perspectives and prevailing circumstances.”
He went on, “During times of peace, many would claim it as a divine sign promising longevity to the emperor, or even symbolizing a prosperous dynasty. Conversely, during times of conflict or disaster, the same would be viewed as a symbol of impending catastrophe.”
He laughed, “The ancients were keen on mystifying things, manipulating those who were less informed. It’s quite absurd. How else could Liu Bang have gotten away with the killing of a white snake? Or the tales of the sons of the White and Red Emperors?”
He shook his head, “It’s truly bewildering that so many people bought into these tales. But I suppose, in ancient times, repetition was key to fostering belief.”
“But don’t be too quick to judge the ancients,” Luo Feng warned, “Modern society has its own way of deception, and it’s arguably more sophisticated. So don’t consider yourself immune. You might just have been fooled without even knowing it.”
“Could this be a meteorite?” Su Meiji questioned, her voice echoing through the microphone as she examined the object’s scarred exterior. Her expertise in such matters was profound. Standard meteorites bore marks from their heated descent— crater-like pits and tiny crystalline fragments. Iron meteorites, a composition of iron-nickel metal and silicate minerals, boasted an elongated triangular shape. Their surfaces, tarnished by high-temperature friction, exhibited an abrasive layer, with swift air currents further carving pits and voids from the displaced silicate minerals.
This resulted in an unexpectedly smooth meteorite surface. Its polished appearance was a direct outcome of the friction encountered during atmospheric entry. But why such a dark hue? The answer lay in the intense scorching endured during its fiery descent.
“Such an enormous meteorite! It’s overwhelming!” One of the viewers could not help but exclaim.
“Absolutely! I’ve never encountered one of this magnitude,” another chimed in.
Upon closer inspection, Luo Feng discerned several characters etched onto the iron meteorite. Retreating for a better view, he gasped aloud.
“What in the world!” he blurted out. “These characters?”
“What is their purpose here?”
“Can you decipher them? Share with us!”
“If any of you can comprehend this ancient script, you’re undoubtedly exceptional! Why keep us in suspense?”
“Wait, is this what they mean?”
“You all are feigning ignorance, aren’t you? You’re merely pretending!”
The audience in the livestream room were playfully mischievous, with many clueless and simply adding fuel to the fire.
“The inscription reads: ‘The Blue Sky has died; the Yellow Sky will rise!” Luo Feng announced, aware of the mounting impatience among the viewers. “Isn’t that the slogan from Zhang Jue’s rebellion?”
“Could someone have carved these characters on the meteorite and then claimed it to be a celestial gift?”
“Is this Boss Cao’s stratagem to secure his path to the throne?”
Further scrutinizing the meteorite, Luo Feng noticed an additional character adjacent to the inscription — it was the character for ‘Cao.’ This revelation clarified the matter significantly. The situation paralleled an incident from the Qin dynasty when a meteorite allegedly descended from the heavens, bearing the inscription: ‘The First Emperor dies and the land is divided.’
This was nothing less than a curse. Boss Cao’s ploy was akin to exploiting an ostensible divine message to sway public sentiment.
“By this reasoning, Boss Cao’s ascension to the throne could be construed as a divine mandate—completely justified!” Luo Feng remarked, continuing his analysis of the meteorite.
He noted references to the Nine Tripod Cauldrons and other symbolic relics. What was their significance? They served to legitimize Boss Cao’s claim to power. Despite his initial proclamation of restoring the Han Dynasty, Boss Cao faced challenges in openly declaring his imperial ambitions. Resorting to such machinations seemed his only recourse.
Regrettably, time spares no one, and Cao Cao passed away before he could arrange his matters. Luo Feng speculated that, had the historical Cao Cao survived another decade, he might have proclaimed himself emperor.
“If one could replace the current leader without causing disruption, why wouldn’t they seize the opportunity? Why shy away from power when it’s within reach? An important consideration is that without power, how can one ensure their protection?” Luo Feng pondered aloud.
Having shared his thoughts, Luo Feng proceeded, “Let’s advance. We should inspect what lies ahead.”
It appeared they stood at the entrance to the main tomb chamber. The funerary objects within were categorized into two—humanoid figurines and stone steles positioned before them. These artifacts were not haphazardly arranged, but instead were carefully aligned according to cardinal directions. The intricate craftsmanship of these figurines amazed Luo Feng.
Upon inspecting a stone stele, he noted the inscription: ‘General Who Conquers the East, Zhang Liao.’ The revelation surprised Luo Feng, yet he soon recognized this as an acceptable practice. The use of famed generals’ figurines to safeguard tomb chambers was not common, but when present, it was sensible.
“Could this be Zhang Liao?” Luo Feng queried. The figure did not align with the historical depictions he was acquainted with. However, as he scrutinized the remaining figurines, he recognized Xiahou Dun, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu. Luo Feng’s examination deepened his conviction that these figurines were fashioned after their real-life counterparts.
The viewers were captivated. These were distinguished generals from the Three Kingdoms era— their fame undisputed. Suddenly, Luo Feng’s attention was drawn to a unique figurine. It was significantly taller—nearly 2 meters— wielding a large blade. The figurine’s phoenix eyes, moth eyebrows, and vibrant vigor were remarkable.
Luo Feng studied the inscription on the adjacent stone stele: “Marquis of
Hanshou, Guan Yu???”
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel