Chapter 203
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“It took about a month and ten weeks to check if there’s anything related to the Book of Axiom among the books brought by Mangnyang.”
Mangnyang was busy reading through the books, interpreting them, and learning on his own. Eventually, he became proficient even in unfamiliar characters.
After stacking about twenty books I brought in the Great Hall, he said, “There’s nothing here.”
Miho was out enjoying the breeze, and I sat in the Great Hall with Mangnyang, groaning. “Hmm…”
None of these books had the Axiom that could make a more accurate map heading north. So, does that mean I have to head back to the Secret Library of the Otherworldly Race for materials? Just as I was about to move using my Golden Lamp technique, Mangnyang waved his hand to stop me and said, “But while interpreting these books, I discovered two important facts.”
Two critical facts? I focused my gaze on Mangnyang as he continued, “First, the place resembling that Secret Library you got the books from isn’t just one. There are at least ten such locations scattered worldwide, all preserving mysterious ancient texts.”
“I see.”
“Secondly… these books are historical records created at least three thousand years ago.”
“Huh?”
I raised an eyebrow at the second fact, but Mangnyang assertively stated, “No doubt about it. This records the history from when the Yin Dynasty was founded, specifically when Emperor Tang took the throne, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor.”
“But… aren’t these written in runes or some ancient Cyrillic script?”
“It’s a translated version.”
“Translated version?”
Mangnyang started flipping through the books one by one, then pointed at a tiny mark next to the rune text with his finger. When I looked closely, I saw that the mark wasn’t random but shaped according to specific rules. Mangnyang explained, “This is an early form used to convert oracle bone script to abbreviations. While mastering the world’s scholarly work, I also learned this abbreviation conversion method, so I could spot it. Thanks to this conversion method, I could interpret the runes in more detail and understand the content of the books.”
“I don’t quite get it. Are you saying they deliberately translated the oracle bone script abbreviations into runes?”
“Exactly.”
With a nod, Mangnyang continued, “In other words, there might have been an original oracle bone script that documented the history of the Yin Dynasty. However, for some reason, the author felt the original would be damaged and thus attempted to translate it into runes. That translation was collected by the Otherworldly Race and stored in their secret library.”
“There’s no way that didn’t get damaged, right? The Silver Age was totally ancient, and it’s not like they had proper paper back then. How could it survive for hundreds or thousands of years?”
“Knowledge isn’t reliant solely on paper and writing. The development of philology allowed history to be preserved because of human innate intelligence and memory creating an intangible flow. The simple inadequacy of recording mediums doesn’t mean transmission gets cut off.”
“What are you trying to say?”
After a moment of contemplation, Mangnyang replied, “According to the content in this historical record, it seems the ancient Yin nobles could use something called the Transference Gate. The writers of these records were nobles, and they could freely travel long distances and learn the cultures of other races. They sensed something, so they translated the history of the Yin Dynasty into runes, the language of ancient barbaric tribes.”
“They sensed something, huh…” I murmured. Mangnyang’s eyes sparkled. “The fact that Yin nobles used the Transference Gate doesn’t surprise you?”
“I’ve heard vague things about it from my past life… The expedition of the Taoist purification was said to travel across the world to set up Transference Gates.”
It probably also ties in with the current Emperor’s ambitions.
“Exactly!” Mangnyang seemed excited that I understood. He grabbed my hand and said, “The Transference Gates weren’t created by the Great Ming Empire; they’re using what was established in ancient times! That’s important!”
I began to comprehend why Mangnyang was so thrilled. If what he claimed was true, the Great Ming Empire could take advantage of these Transference Gates at any given time. As long as we understand how to use them by looking at ancient texts, this knowledge would undoubtedly be valuable in the future.
“Anyway, back to the main point, these twenty books are all about Changqi (倉頡). Each appears to hold different content, suggesting that he was quite active in the early Yin Dynasty, and his activities were thoroughly documented.”
Stunned, I said, “Changqi? Are you talking about the one who created Chinese characters?”
“That’s right, the same Changqi. These twenty historical records consistently mention his actions.”
“That’s absurd… Changqi is a mythological figure, someone from the time of the Yellow Emperor. The fact that there are records from the era when human history began, during the Yin Dynasty, is far-fetched!”
My rebuttal was valid enough to convince scholars across the realm. Changqi! He was known as the figure during the primordial era, Guo Sun Xuanwen, said to have had a broad dragon-like face and emitted radiance from his four eyes. He was credited with inventing the base of the Chinese characters. Naturally, no one in the Central Plains would believe he’s a real person. That’s because most perspectives see him as a mythical entity created to explain the origins of Chinese characters.
However, Mangnyang slowly shook his head. “Before I interpreted these twenty historical records, I thought the same. Yet, Changqi is also called the Historical Emperor, and he’s the inventor of pictograms. Such a powerful mythic-level existence couldn’t have died easily.”
“……!!”
“There haven’t been any specific mentions since the era of the Emperors. Changqi continued to live and remain active in human society, and his activities are recorded in these historical records.”
My mind felt like it was spinning at the mention of a mythological being.
“That can’t be… I didn’t specifically pick those from the Secret Library. I just grabbed random books from each shelf. What are the odds that all twenty of them would mention Changqi?”
As I half panicked while rebutting, Mangnyang chuckled softly. “Then it’s not a coincidence. I suspect that most of the books in that library are historically related to Changqi, just like these twenty.”
“……”
Then it makes sense. The Secret Library established by the Otherworldly Race likely aimed to preserve historical accounts of the Yin Dynasty related to Changqi. But why did they keep that one vast account?
Mangnyang shrugged. “Well, according to you, isn’t Peng Zuo still alive? So, it’s not that strange to think that Changqi is as well.”
Mangnyang made a point about that mythological being being immortal. I thought for a while and then asked, “So… what specific actions of Changqi does it record?”
“That’s quite peculiar…” Mangnyang spoke quietly.
“These historical records are filled with dialogues between Emperor Guo Sun Xuanwen and his close aides. You could say it’s a grand meeting to create cultural artifacts for humanity.”
“A meeting.”
For a moment, I finally began to comprehend why all these vast historical records uniformly mentioned Changqi. Because it documented the entire significant meeting between the Emperor and his aides, it must be voluminous. And since the characters and pictograms are crucial in human culture, Changqi cannot be omitted.
“Hui makes bows, Mo Yi makes arrows, Hozho makes crowns, Bai Ye makes attire, Yi makes drums, Yunsu makes mirrors, Ye Che makes spirits, Mu Peng provides medical technology, Wu Han furnishes elixirs, Ying Yun and Ying Zhang set musical scales, Da Yao makes the divining rods, Yi Su produces arithmetic knowledge, Long Sheng makes stargazing… Well, you must already have a general idea from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.”
“Of course.”
While it sounded complicated, what Mangnyang explained wasn’t anything special. Just like how it’s recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, it documented the process of the Emperor, who defeated Chi You, creating various beneficial artifacts for humans. Anyone with a bit of knowledge about teachings wouldn’t easily misunderstand that part.
Mangnyang hurriedly summarized, letting out a sigh. “Sigh – But these historical records are quite different. Especially the contents of the meeting differ significantly from what we know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Emperor Guo Sun Xuanwen didn’t directly participate in the meeting. No… he is only mentioned to exist without revealing any form. Instead, Changqi is depicted as the leader, conducting the meeting with considerable authority, even going so far as to kill an aide of the Emperor.”
“……!!”
What does that even mean? This is completely opposite to existing historical interpretations that view Changqi as just another aide of the Emperor. As I stared at Mangnyang in shock, he continued calmly.
“Moreover, these historical records consistently refer to Changqi as the Historical Emperor. This indicates a title and authority directly conferred by the Emperor, meaning that Changqi wields significant power right after the Emperor among his subordinates.”
“Hmm…”
So Changqi, the inventor of Chinese characters, was such a formidable figure? Suddenly enlightened, I said to Mangnyang, “Wait a minute! You said these records document the history during the reign of Emperor Tang, right? Why are Changqi’s contributions mentioned so often?”
“Good catch! That’s exactly the key point.”
Mangnyang glanced around and then spoke calmly, “Because Changqi is both the Historical Emperor and the founder of the Yin Dynasty, Emperor Tang.”
“……?!”
What kind of nonsense is this? The founder of the Yin Dynasty! Emperor Tang, known for toppling the Xia Dynasty and establishing the Yin Dynasty, is said to be an ancient figure. Unlike the Emperor or Changqi, who belong in mythology, he is supported by records in history. So why is he being called Changqi?
“Emperor Tang fell the Xia and established the Shang, or rather the Yin Dynasty. That was simply a tale mixed with folklore. The true origin of the Yin Dynasty is speculated to be from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, related to Jeogok. From that perspective, these historical records perfectly align.”
I didn’t quite understand, but it was clear he meant Changqi was the ancestor of the Yin Dynasty. Also, Mangnyang seemed to trust these historical records entirely.
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors… I repeated the term inwardly. For some strange reason, I felt as though secrets related to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were approaching me like a tightly coiled serpent, hidden yet insistent. Almost like a riddle beckoning me to unravel it, making me ponder endlessly.
No – this means that if I can’t uncover the secret of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, I can’t progress further.
“The reason I call Changqi Emperor Tang is simple. In these twenty records, it mentions that Changqi was entrusted with the dominion over the Central Plains by the Emperor when founding the Yin Dynasty, expressing ambitions to lead the human race while offering to the gods.”
“……”
I took a deep breath, slowly piecing together Mangnyang’s words. I finally managed to say calmly, “So, the Emperor handed the dominion over humans to Changqi, who established the Yin Dynasty as Emperor Tang, and these historical records document a meeting aimed at educating the primitive human race.”
By that point, it could be seen as historically significant. It’s easy to see why the Yin nobles went through the trouble of creating a translated version in Western lettering. This was also a valid reason for the Otherworldly Race to preserve these in their library.
“That’s correct. But the expression of educating might need some refinement.”
“Why? The Emperor’s aides created valuable artifacts for humans, isn’t that a blessing?”
At my rebuttal, Mangnyang fell silent. Several moments passed before he spoke again.
“It’s not a blessing.”
He bore a strange angry expression, not directed at me but at something vast and formless that seemed to irritate him. Clenching his teeth as veins bulged at his temples, he spoke, “It’s domestication.”
“Domestication?”
With a swift motion, Mangnyang grabbed one of the books and opened it. He then read it out loud line for line for me to hear clearly.
“[Thus, Emperor Tang Changqi spoke, asking how much tribute the Five Emperors desired, and how much yield the harvest would need yearly. To that question, Goblin Deity and Ulu joyfully leapt out from the boundary of the Underworld to provide their input. ‘Humans breed without time or season, thus capturing five hundred men and five hundred women each month would be optimal; newborn babies are greatly enjoyed by the deities!’ At this response, Emperor Tang Changqi took great heed and implemented it from the following year, opening the gates to celebrate greatly…].”
Tributes offered to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. That refers to humans.
“……”
I understood what Mangnyang was trying to convey, and my face drained of color. “Nobody could expect this kind of content to be in a folk history, but this must be the [real history]. There’s no way a book from a great race’s library could be a forgery…”
Mangnyang, murmuring, continued with a grim expression. “For the hundreds of years until the collapse of the Yin Dynasty… the Divine Race ruled over humans from generation to generation, and at specified times, they delighted in capturing humans as tributes. Thousands of human sacrifices were performed, and ancient humans were treated like pigs and dogs, not accorded dignity.”
Memories from the past resurfaced. The Golden Eagle Guard led by sorcerers performed human sacrifice rituals, and divine beings ran rampant amidst the chaos of sins. During the so-called Silver Age, human domestication by the gods was exceedingly widespread across the continent!
‘So it was.’
While I had tried to avoid acknowledging it until now, it became clear that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were by no means friendly towards humanity.
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