In the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period, a wise man named Lao Tzu walked silently in this world, and his birthplace and year were covered by the dust of time, becoming an eternal mystery. He worked as a librarian in the libraries of the Zhou Dynasty, a job that gave him access to a variety of texts that deepened his understanding of philosophy and the nature of the universe. However, he was tired of the gloom of politics and the intrigues of the court, and eventually chose to resign and begin his long journey.
Lao Tzu's footprints throughout the Central Plains, his wisdom and profound insights attracted countless seekers of truth, including the young Confucius. Confucius once visited Lao Tzu in the hope of learning a deeper knowledge from this great thinker. The exchange between the two was full of philosophy, but Lao Tzu's view of things was different from the etiquette pursued by Confucius, and this meeting became the source of countless legends for later generations.
Finally, in the thirty-fifth year of King Jing of Zhou, Lao Tzu decided to leave the land he was familiar with and look for a more distant place to continue his practice and thinking. When he arrived at Hangu Pass, he encountered unexpected obstacles. The ** guarding the pass knows the importance of Lao Tzu's wisdom to the world, and is unwilling to let such a treasure leave like this. He pleaded with Lao Tzu that if he had to leave, he would at least leave some teachings behind to illuminate future generations.
Lao Tzu meditated in the hut in front of the checkpoint for a few days, and after contemplation, he picked up the pen and condensed the wisdom of his life into words, which was later passed down through the ages. This work is concise and profound, containing Lao Tzu's understanding of "Tao" and "Virtue", and has influenced the philosophical thinking of later generations for thousands of years.
There are various theories about Lao Tzu's whereabouts after that, some say that he became an immortal and drifted away, while others believe that he continued to live in seclusion and quietly continued his education work in a certain corner. But no matter how his figure disappears, the wisdom left by Lao Tzu to the world, like a bright star, will always illuminate the path of those who seek the truth.
In the ancient land of China, Qin Shi Huang's immortal dream was strong, and he heard the legend of Lao Tzu turning into an immortal, and he had the same desire in his heart. So, he gathered a large number of monks who had mastered the mystical art in an attempt to find the secret of immortality, among which Xu Fu's name was the most well-known. Qin Shi Huang had high hopes for Xu Fu, expecting him to open the door to the fairy world.
In 219 B.C., Qin Shi Huang toured east to Mount Tai, and the sight of the seaside made him mistakenly believe that the fairy world was close at hand. He then ordered Xu Fu to lead a huge fleet of ships, carrying countless treasures and young men and women, and embarked on a journey to find immortals. However, the door of the fairy world was not open to Xu Fu, and when his fleet returned, he returned empty-handed.
A few years later, Qin Shi Huang traveled east again, and Xu Fu knew that if he returned empty-handed, he would die. So, he lied that there were monster sharks in the sea that hindered the way to find immortals. Qin Shi Huang was furious when he heard this, and ordered the mackerel to be killed. Seeing this, Xu Fu knew that there was no way out, so he had to set sail to sea again, vowing that he would get the immortal medicine on this trip.
Since Xu Fu went to sea for the second time, there has been no news. Legend has it that the fleet he led eventually arrived at a place called "Pingyuan Guangze", which was a place of picturesque scenery and abundant water and plants, suitable for habitation. It is said that this land is the present-day island of Kyushu. In Japan, the legend of Xu Fu is widely spread, and many temples still worship him in many places.
In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, after the death of Zhu Yuanzhang, the throne unexpectedly fell on his grandson Zhu Yunwen. The young Emperor Jianwen, full of enthusiasm for reform, was determined to cut off the power of the vassal king in one fell swoop in order to consolidate the centralization of power. However, this plan provoked a strong ** from Zhu Di, the king of Yan, and triggered a mutiny that lasted for four years.
The story takes place in that turbulent era. Zhu Yunwen, the young emperor, began to plot a plan to reduce the power of the kings during his reign. Little did he know that this decision would be a turning point in his fate. Zhu Di, the king of Yan, an ambitious vassal king, was so dissatisfied with this that he eventually provoked a protracted rebellion.
After four years of war, the city of Nanjing was broken, and Zhu Yunwen's whereabouts became a mystery. In the midst of the chaos, the palace was engulfed in flames, leaving behind only scorched earth and unrecognizable remains. After Zhu Di became the master, he secretly sent Hu Hu to secretly search for the missing Zhu Yunwen in the name of looking for Zhang Sanfeng.
It is rumored that Zheng He's seven voyages are not only to open up the first route, but also a secret mission - to find Zhu Yunwen. However, whether it is land or sea, Zhu Yunwen seems to have evaporated from the world, leaving no trace.
One of the most widely circulated folk sayings is that Zhu Yunwen fled to a temple in Qinghai, cut his hair and became a monk, and has since disappeared into old age. However, whether it is a visit to a temple or a review of historical records, there is always a lack of conclusive evidence for this claim.
Hu Hui searched for 20 years, and finally revealed to Zhu Di the answer he was looking for after a long conversation. No one knows the content of that night's conversation, but since then, Zhu Di seems to have let go of the big stone in his heart and never mentioned Zhu Yunwen again.
In the late Tang Dynasty, Yang Guozhong's dictatorship caused a turmoil. An Lushan rebelled, and Tang Xuanzong had no choice but to flee Chang'an with a sense of sorrow. Along the way, the accompanying soldiers were hungry and exhausted, and at Maweipo, their anger finally broke out, and Yang Guozhong was killed. In order to protect themselves, the soldiers forced Tang Xuanzong to order the killing of Yang Guifei.
However, there is another theory about Yang Guifei's whereabouts. It is rumored that Tang Xuanzong used a woman similar to Yang Guifei as a stand-in to secretly send the real Yang Guifei to Japan and let her live there in seclusion. Her new home was set in what is now Kamiguchi Prefecture in Japan. In order to express his thoughts about Yang Guifei, Tang Xuanzong also specially sent two Buddha statues. These two Buddha statues became the origin of the "Nizun Temple" in Shangkou County.
During the Warring States Period, Gou Jian of the Yue Kingdom experienced a reversal from slavery to kingship. Defeated by Wu Guo, he was forced to become a servant of his husband, and this humiliating years became the nourishment of his inner perseverance. Many years later, Goujian, the king of Yue, was ready to fight back and decided to use a series of elaborate schemes to fight back, the most well-known of which was the world-famous beauty scheme.
Under Gou Jian's secret order, his loyal minister Fan Li traveled all over the countryside, and finally found Shi Yiguang in a place called Xicun. Her beauty was like the pearl of the village, and it was not long before people became accustomed to calling her Shih Tzu. Xi Shi didn't know what fate she was about to step into, but she always had loyalty to the country in her heart.
Under Fan Li's arrangement, Xi Shi underwent rigorous training and not only learned court etiquette, but also mastered espionage skills. When she entered the court of Wu and became the favorite concubine of her husband, her natural beauty was already an unquenchable fire in King Wu's heart. She skillfully transmitted information to Gou Jian, and at the same time used her wisdom and charm to firmly grasp her husband's heart, so that the former overlord indulged in love and forgot about Jiangshan Sheji.
Gou Jian finally waited for the moment of revenge, destroyed Wu in one fell swoop, regained the lost land, and the joy of recovering the country and his personal emotional entanglement made him face a choice. There are two very different versions of Shih Tzu's fate. One is that Fan Li asked Gou Jian to release Xi Shi, and the two flew away, hidden in the mountains and forests, enjoying the life of a paradise. The dialogue between Fan Li and Xi Shi may be full of longing and planning for future life, and the two are looking for their peace and happiness in the company of each other.
Another theory is that in order to avoid Gou Jian's mistakes, Fan Li decided to let Xi Shi stay at the bottom of the lake forever during a trip to the lake. This decision is undoubtedly due to Fan Li's deep loyalty to Gou Jian and his concern for the future of the country. Their final conversation, perhaps about sacrifice and righteousness, is the necessity for Fan Li to explain all this to Xi Shi, and Xi Shi, as an amazing woman, may understand and accept all this.
Either way, the story of Xi Shi has become a good story for later generations. She is not only a beautiful woman, but also a symbol of wisdom and bravery. Her story is not only a legend of love, but also a profound reflection on humanity, loyalty and sacrifice in the context of that era.
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