The Dong Hua Pavilion, not very spacious, was filled with just the right amount of warmth.

Every gust of wind here, every sensation that touches your skin, is carefully tended to by someone.

To keep the Emperor from being distracted by anything trivial is their greatest contribution to the Qi Empire.

The Son of Heaven sits.

Jiang Wang bowed.

Li Zhengshu stood quietly beside him, saying nothing.

Churchill stood guard at the door, and there was little else to be heard in the distance.

Even the lights in the room were subdued, not daring to flicker at all.

During this waiting time, it is most suitable for cultivation. Jiang Wang thought inexplicably in his heart.

But after all, it's just wishful thinking.

The meaning of time is hard to measure at this moment.

After an unknown amount of time, another page turned —

"In the third month of that year, the prince shot a dragon fox."

The Emperor's voice sounded as though it came from the heavens above, so close yet so distant.

When Jiang Wang reacted instantly, he immediately replied: "The ancestor thought it was ominous and banished him to Qingqiu. Then he established Shang Hua."

"The Records of the World, Carved from Stone and Seas," compiled by Sima Heng, a prominent scholar of the Qilin Academy, is the most comprehensive historical work documenting the history of all nations since the advent of the Daoist new era. It is universally recognized as a reliable historical text. "

Sima Heng traveled all over the world, visiting ancient sites and tracing history. He collected old news, secret histories, and the brief words of famous people from all dynasties...

Historical records from various countries, local chronicles, folk tales passed down through generations, changes in climate, and the shifting of mountains and rivers... all these served as his material.

Make sure to verify information with each other and obtain credible historical data before putting pen to paper.

Sima Heng's writing is concise and precise, with a balanced style that avoids revealing personal emotional inclinations.

Just as the opening line of "The Knife Cuts Through the Sea" goes —

"Sima, whose given name was Heng, was a dull man. He only came to know himself by reading history. With no boat to cross, he sharpened his knife and carved through the sea."

He said that as someone so foolish, he had no natural talent, no innate insight or wisdom. He could only understand himself through studying the rise and fall of history.

He said that history itself is the most truthful evaluation, and he has no right to comment on what came before him.

He said he was just a recorder of history, not a commentator... And indeed he did so.

The entire work, "History Knife Carves the Sea," runs to millions of words. But those discarded and cut passages add up to even more than millions of characters. The effort put into these millions of words exceeds tens of millions of characters!

He spent three hundred years revising it forty-three times before it was finally completed. Upon its publication, the book immediately became a universally recognized historical authority!

《Shi Dao Zhao Hai》 records history from the beginning of the Daol calendar to the year 3900. It encompasses the rise and fall of nations, the tales of kings, ministers, generals, and heroes, allowing people to understand past and present events. The vast river of humanity flows through its pages.

According to Sima Heng's account, every 70 years after the initial compilation, the content would be supplemented. Currently, it is the year 3920 on the Daoli calendar, so the history of the Warring States period after 3900 on the Daoli calendar has not yet been written. However, his disciples have long since begun to collect credible relevant materials.

A total of ten million words are compiled into three hundred and seven volumes. Some national historical materials form one volume on their own, while others can only be bound with other countries' materials in one volume.

And volumes one to ten are all *Jinglue*!

>

Among those dynasties that have endured to this day or once reigned supreme, we have the "Jinglü (Records of Jing)" in ten volumes, the "Yanglü (Records of Yang)" in six volumes, the "Qinlü (Records of Qin)" in eight volumes, the "Chülü (Records of Chu)" in nine volumes, the "Múlü (Records of Mu)" in six volumes, the "Jīnglù (Records of Jing)" in seven volumes, and the "Qílù (Records of Qi)" in three volumes...

The quotation "In the third month of this year, the prince shot a dragon fox," comes from the second volume of "Shi Dao Zao Hai".

And the next sentence is: "The Taizu thought it was ill-omened, and banished him to Qingqiu. Thus, Shang Hua was established."

This section talks about the history of Emperor Taizu of Jin abolishing and reinstating his crown prince.

Jiang Wang received it very skillfully, of course, he had indeed put in a lot of effort.

“Qingyangzi, you don’t have to be so formal.” The Qi Emperor casually said, “Just sit and talk.”

Jiang Wang thought to himself, "So they're really going to have a surprise inspection. Luckily I memorized...part of it."

On second thought, the emperor of the great Qi dynasty is still quite benevolent, only testing for this much...

He let out a breath, but it wasn't completely released.

He stood up and said respectfully, "Returning to the court is already a period of rest, and being summoned by the emperor is even more a blessing from heaven. It's perfectly fine for me to speak while standing."

Come on, Master Dong Hua Li Zhenshu is standing, how dare he sit down?

That was a rather blunt flattery. The Emperor remained unmoved and, of course, didn't continue his seat. He simply asked, "Tell me, why did the Taizu regard this with disfavor?"

Jiang Wang was stunned! Let me know if you have more text you'd like me to translate!

When I asked for leave to go to Chu, you only said to memorize the books, but you never said I had to fully understand them!

How do I know why Emperor Taizu viewed this with displeasure? And I can't ask him!

Why? Why! Sima Heng didn't write it either!

Of course, he didn't have the guts to tell Emperor Qi.

I tried my best to force myself to understand a few sentences.

Finally, he only said: "Your servant is dull and knows the what but not the why."

When Jiang Wang was flattering, Li Zhengshu frowned because it really wasn't skillful at all. But when he said the words "clumsy and dull," a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.

In the opening of "The Sharp Knife Carves into the Sea", Sima Heng portrays himself as a dull person.

This is precisely an attitude towards history!

You don't have to understand, but you can't pretend to.

It can be interpreted freely, but not distorted.

Throughout history, countless scholars have attempted to chronicle the world. So why is it that Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian alone is considered the most reliable historical text?

The answer is in the title of the book.

>

It's nothing more than four words, "Carve the Sea with a Historical Knife"!

In every inch, in every stroke, in truthfulness.

Whether intentional or unintentional, these two words, "clumsy," used at this precise moment, in this very situation, are nothing short of brilliant.

Li Zhengshu was pleased, but remained silent.

All one could hear was the Celestial Emperor's laughter and scolding: "You must be lacking in intellect, wit, and knowledge! What kind of books have you been reading?"

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Jiang Wang lowered his head and said, "I am ashamed of myself. From now on, I will work hard! But since I was young, I lacked a good teacher and had no free time. In the short term, I'm afraid I can't satisfy Your Majesty."

The emperor turned his head to look at Li Zhenshu: "Look, he still knows how to leave himself an escape route when speaking. Is this a dull person? I think he is very cunning!"

Li Zhengshu smiled and said, "Whether cunning or dull, they are all within the Emperor's grasp!"

The emperor said, “You are a cunning one too!”

This “Jade Gentleman” merely said, “Is Li Zhengshu not a vassal of the King?”

The emperor pointed at him with his finger, and finally smiled: "You cunning old fox, then teach this little fox a lesson!"

The closeness between the Son of Heaven and Li Zhenshu was truly extraordinary.

It's no wonder that Dong Hua scholar has been almost synonymous with Li Zhengshu in recent years, and it's no wonder that despite Li Zhengshu not actually holding any real power, he still wields considerable influence in Qi.

Jiang Wang was deep in thought, but his actions were quick. He hurriedly bowed and said, "It is a great honor for Jiang Wang to have your guidance, Master!"

Li Zhishou smiled.

"Pointing out flaws" can sometimes be a very taboo thing, especially for an unofficial scholar like him who has always steered clear of trouble.

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But as Jiang Wang is a junior member of the family able to participate in the Cailing Houfu's family feast, it's reasonable for him to offer some advice.

...without any preparation, he blurted out: "To understand this historical document, you only need to understand one place - 'Qingqiu.'"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"What is Qingqiu?"

“This place is behind the Ten Thousand Demon Gate, the holy land of the fox clan. Prince Jing shot the dragon fox, but Emperor Jing put him in exile to Qingqiu. This was not a simple exile; it was an order for him to die. Such a severe punishment cannot be explained simply by 'disregarding' him. Why go to such extremes?”

>

Let's look into the causes of this matter again.

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After the Crown Prince personally went to the Demon Gate, he killed a dragon fox and used its fur to make a fur coat, which was presented to the Empress of Jing Country. This act both boasted his martial prowess and demonstrated filial piety. It's something that shouldn't be criticized, even deserving praise. So why did Emperor Jingzu hate him so much, wanting him dead?

Li Zheng's demeanor was calm and composed, as he spoke eloquently, skillfully inspiring the listener's thoughts. His every word prompted contemplation, truly possessing a charm bestowed by time.

We should note that in the first volume of *Records of History*, Sima Heng's account mentions, "'The First Ancestor subdued demons by dividing and scattering them, gathering and annihilating them. For seven years he pursued the tigers, for nine years he drove back the thorns.'"

Of course, Jiang Wang remembered this passage well, reciting it by heart. But he really couldn't figure out how it was related to Prince Jing's shooting of the dragon fox.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Li Zhengshu said patiently, "The Ten Thousand Demons Gate was built in ancient times, completely cutting off the hope of the demon race returning to the mortal world. It is indeed a supreme achievement of the Human Emperor. But the slaughter behind the Ten Thousand Demons Gate has never stopped. The demon race has never given up on attacking the mortal world."

The Gate of Ten Thousand Demons is not something that can be erected and then left to stand on its own. It requires constant maintenance and reinforcement.

The fall of the True Age heralded the end of the Ancient Era.

Emperor Jingtai founded the Heavenly Capital City atop the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, establishing the State of Jing. He was known as "the emperor who guards the nation's gate" and for a time, many hoped he would become a true sovereign.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!

He indeed established remarkable achievements behind the Ten Thousand Demon Gate.

Behind the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, lies another vast world. To us, there are still too many unknowns and dangers present. Of course, the greatest danger has always been the demon race.

The human army and the demon horde fought there, spanning ancient times, the near ancient era, and all the way to the present day; they never ceased their battle.

The "Chasing Tigers for Seven Years" in *The Records of Historical Swords* refers to Emperor Taizu's seven-year campaign to expel the tiger tribe who held the frontline battlefield at that time. This significantly pushed back the monster race's line beyond the Wan Yao Gate, granting the human army more strategic space.

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And the first strongman of the Shiba Inu clan, Emperor Jingtaizu, repelled him in nine years.

The key point recorded here is Emperor Taizu's strategy towards the Yaozu... it lies in this 'divide and conquer'.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

During the time when Prince Jing shot the Dragon Fox, the fox clan was the main target of Emperor Jing's division of the demon race. The Dragon Fox was the most famous and powerful member of the fox clan at that time.

Jiang Wang seemed to understand a bit.

Li Zhengshu continued, "On the surface, this matter stems from Long Hu being a powerful demon sought after by Jing Guo, the kingdom of the Ten Thousand Demons. The reckless actions of Prince Jing destroyed Jing Guo's efforts to divide the demons. That's why Emperor Jing believed it was an ominous sign."

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Jiang Wang seemed thoughtful: "It's not necessarily bad, but it's unwise?"

Li Zhengshu also said, "But in the circumstances at that time, dividing the demon clan was simply impossible. There are many historical records about the situation of the demon clan during that era. The Dragon Fox was a greedy character who made endless demands and had no sincerity at all. Otherwise, when Prince Jing shot it dead, the army wouldn't have cheered "Eternal Life" — this event is not recorded in the Shi Dao Zai Hai (a historical text), nor is it mentioned by Jing historians, but it is recorded in Chu history."

He said, casually reciting a passage: "Berong shot the dragon fox, gaining the hearts of the soldiers, and mountains roared for his eternal life."

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“So that’s how it is!” Jiang Wang suddenly realized, “Such a short passage, yet it contains such waves of emotion!”

Li Zhengshu smiled faintly and said, "Those who are able to leave their names in history naturally have a magnificent life."

Bo Yong is the name of the prince who shot the dragon fox.

>

Generally speaking, the word "eternal life" is only used when congratulating the emperor.

In the military, cheering "Eternal Life" was inappropriate and seemed to suggest that Bo Yong was trying to consolidate power by winning over the army. It was simply too presumptuous.

Therefore.

Emperor Taizu's killing of Bo Yong under a vague pretext was probably still about a power struggle within the imperial family.

Of course, the historical records of State Jing would have to avoid mentioning this. In contrast, the historical records of State Chu would not at all conceal this from State Jing.

... Sima Heng did not include this event in *Records of the Historian*, probably because he could not fully trust the records of Chu history, especially those concerning the Jing State's history...

Reading history books is really complicated!

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Jiang Wang felt that practicing Taoist techniques like "Guan Zizai" was far more difficult than anything else.

Li Zhengshu draws from a wide range of sources, effortlessly and convincingly. He is truly a great scholar!

Well deserved of a great scholar from Qingya Academy... Huh? Qingya Academy?

Jiang Wang inexplicably had a bad feeling.

As expected, Li Zhengshu continued, "But these are not the root causes. The most fundamental reason is... Emperor Taizu of Jing had already intended to depose her!"

His handsome face wore an innocent expression. It was as if he were saying, "Your brain isn't working properly, you're going back and forth aimlessly. Don't blame me."

He smiled faintly: “I’ll just say one thing, the empress at that time was from Mount Daluo. The empress who was later installed was from Mount Yujing.”

Throughout the entire “teaching” process, Jiang Wang's viewpoint was completely swayed by the tide, following Li Zhengshu’s narration and constantly wavering, rising and falling, frequently changing directions. Every time he thought he had understood, he would then discover that he didn’t…until finally, he was suddenly enlightened to the truth!

It's not that I have any bad intentions, but this kind of twisted sense of humor is definitely something Qingya Academy would do...

This is so boring!

...and by extension... Emperor Qi intentionally asked such a complex question that made my head spin. Where was the benevolence of an emperor? He clearly intended to embarrass me, Jiang! Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

But when under someone's roof, one has to bow their head.

Lord Jiang could only feign confusion and ask, "Is this about the struggle between the three branches of the Daoist sect? Does it involve the undercurrents between the Jing Kingdom royal family and the three holy lands of Daoism?"

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

Li Zhengshu smiled: "If you've finished reading Jinglue, then you should know. The prince of Emperor Taizu of Jing Dynasty was first established as the eldest son Boyong. After Boyong, Shang Hua was established. After Shang Hua, Zi Zhao was established. But when Emperor Taizu finally abdicated to practice, the one who inherited the throne was Fu Ren. That is what is called Emperor Wen of Jing."

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated! ?

He stopped there, naturally it wasn't convenient to go into details, and besides, there was no need to say more.

<< Jian Wang looked thoughtful. >>

After pondering for a moment, he said, "I am truly confused!"

He addressed the emperor, saying: "Your Majesty, as you can see, Jiang Wang is simply not cut out for studying! I recognize each character, but when they are put together, I find it difficult to understand."

To his eagerness to break free from the shackles of studying, Emperor Qi only gave a nonchalant look and said, "Do you remember what I told you before you went to Chu?"

Jiang Wangdao: "Your servant will never forget!"

"Tell me yourself. How many have you memorized?"

“I, have carried some…”

"Some?"

About one third.

About?

Jiang Wang said resolutely, "There's one-third!"

>

“Jade Prince, you come and check for me, just check the content of the first hundred scrolls.” The emperor casually said, and then asked: “Is there enough time?”

Li Zhengshu smiled and replied, “The morning court session hasn't begun yet.”

When the emperor gave a casual wave of his hand, there was an air of power within him, as if he could single-handedly rule mountains and rivers, and bring about an era that would last for millennia. "Let's begin!"

After finishing this chapter, my hair is gone.

Why are the updates so fast, Great God?