After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1285: Chapter 1252: Solar Eclipse

Because there was an early warning, many people were distracted today, occasionally looking up at the sky.

Zhao Hu and Zhao Song were no exception.

As it approached noon and the sun had yet to appear, the impatient Zhao Hu went back inside, grumbling, "Why make such things public? Guessing correctly brings no benefit, but guessing wrong leads to endless trouble."

He had just sat down and hadn’t taken a sip of tea when there was a cry from outside. Wu Yin stumbled in, shouting, "Grandfather, grandfather, the celestial dog really is devouring the sun!"

Zhao Hu’s hand trembled, dropping the teacup he had just picked up as he rushed outside, scolding, "Why are you shouting? The newspaper said this isn’t called a celestial dog devouring the sun; it’s because the moon is blocking the sun..."

Rushing out the door, there was still sunlight, but it was quickly replaced by shadows. He looked up to the sky and saw that the originally radiant and round sun had a corner missing, and that missing corner expanded quickly, slowly covering the entire sun...

A shadow fell, making Zhao Hu’s eyes tear up from looking straight at the sun, but the fear in his heart outweighed the sting in his eyes, and his hands began to tremble.

Indeed, it was an eclipse. Could it be a warning from heaven to Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao family?

As expected, with a guilty conscience, one’s heart feels empty. Unlike Zhao Hu, the common people on Luoyang’s streets initially panicked when viewing the eclipse, but after someone shouted, "Guo Shenxian was right, there really is an eclipse!" they were no longer so frightened.

Then everyone looked up at the gradually darkening sun, excitedly discussing, "Is it really because the moon is blocking the sun that there’s an eclipse?"

"If it’s not the celestial dog devouring the sun, should we still beat the gongs to scare it away?"

"Perhaps we can scare away the moon."

The gongs were ready, and not striking them left an uneasy feeling, with a lingering anxiety that compelled the need to beat something.

Others felt the same, especially as the sun gradually disappeared and a shadow covered them. Though it wasn’t dark enough to obscure vision, the shadow covered not only their heads but also their hearts.

No one knows who started it, but the first gong sound rang out, and people in the street began to follow excitedly; those with gongs beat them, those without improvised with whatever was at hand, and if nothing was available, they simply shouted at the sky as if driving away dogs.

It seems, even after the scientific explanation, the belief of the celestial dog devouring the sun could not be erased.

The sounds from the streets and alleys converged, seemingly reaching the Imperial Palace and the heavens.

In a moment, the sun was completely covered, and then, as if intimidated by their noise and clamor, the shadow began to retreat, revealing a crescent-like sun.

Witnessing this, the masses grew even more excited and beat their instruments more vigorously.

The tavern wait staff enthusiastically banged on pans, and seeing the sun begin to reappear, excitedly patted the person beside them, saying, "I drove it away, I drove it away..."

With the shadow gradually retreating and the sun re-emerging, the people cheered and jumped with joy. The staff member only then realized the person standing next to him was the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, disheveled from the pats, didn’t blame him but saw his unease and praised, "Well done, driving away the celestial dog, you deserve credit."

The staff member was then happy and joined the crowd in cheering.

The people in Luoyang City celebrated like they had won a battle, and the shopkeeper was also very pleased, immediately declaring, "Today, everyone dining in will get a free dish of Beating the Celestial Dog!"

People nearby heard this and quickly asked, "How is Beating the Celestial Dog made?"

"The celestial dog is replaced with pork. If you want to know how it’s made, come in and eat."

The curious crowd then swarmed into the tavern, and soon the tavern was full.

The people had just fought together, and in high spirits with lively conversations, they didn’t mind sharing tables. Before long, there was almost no room to stand.

Even during the busiest time for New Year’s shopping, there weren’t this many people.

The shopkeeper had already run to the kitchen, instructing the kitchen to quickly come up with a dish called "Beating the Celestial Dog," while he leaned against the door, looking outside, lamenting, "Why aren’t those other stores doing business? They don’t think or learn; my place is already full."

The chef didn’t bother with the shopkeeper; the kitchen was too busy for idle chatter.

With no response, the shopkeeper regretfully went back to greet the customers.

Other shopkeepers quickly caught on, and one after another launched an "Eclipse Special," offering dishes, wine, or snacks to attract the crowd into their shops.

Luoyang presented a prosperous scene; with the forewarning and the communal experience, the people weren’t fearful.

However, not everyone shared the common people’s optimism and free-spirited nature. In the capital, many scholars slowly withdrew their gaze, their hearts turbulent like stormy seas, unable to calm.

Zhao Hu felt mostly fear, while Zhao Song was despondent, murmuring, "Is this a calamity or a blessing?"

In the Jiangnan Association Hall, Gu Rong withdrew his gaze and let out a deep breath, turning to He Xun, "What do you think?"

He Xun blinked away the discomfort in his eyes, tears rolling down as he said, "This is fate; Guo Jingchun was right, fate lies with the Zhao family."

A celestial phenomenon as a warning, perhaps heaven itself is displeased with the Sima family for usurping the throne and plunging the land into chaos.

However, if Zhao Hanzhang wants to succeed without future troubles or further erosion of ethics and morals, momentum must be built. The newspapers over these twenty days were likely prepared for this momentum.

He Xun hoped Zhao Hanzhang would treat the Little Emperor kindly. This land’s morals have been shattered to pieces by the Sima Family and cannot deteriorate further.

Therefore, he hopes she can gather the fragments.

With such celestial signs, her claim would be well justified. He hoped the situation wouldn’t turn too bloody, further souring people’s hearts.

Gu Rong also turned towards the direction of the Imperial Palace, murmuring, "I wonder if the Little Emperor will live to adulthood, the King Langya’s family..."

He Xun sighed, "Living another three years could allow some virtues to be cultivated in this land. How could we hope for the conscience of a decisive military general?"

Some hundred miles from Luoyang, the eclipse was only halfway through, and light slowly returned around Fu Tinghan, until the last bit of shadow dissipated. He then withdrew his attention, glancing at his hand marked with deep imprints, murmuring, "Three hundred and twenty-five, roughly five minutes and twenty-five seconds, an annular eclipse here. Was it total eclipse in Luoyang, and partial eclipse in Chen County? Wonder when it was visible, and what the time difference was..."

In the surrounding silence, Fu Tinghan turned back, only then realizing that Fu An and the trusted aides were kneeling on the ground, looking at him with pale faces.

Fu Tinghan smiled, waving at them, "Why are you kneeling? Let’s go, we’ll continue on our journey; we won’t reach the Capital City today..."