Lao Du couldn't help but ask, "I've heard of both of the legends you mentioned, but what do they have to do with the Black Concubine's Tomb?"
"The relationship between Zhu Ying and the Black Concubine's Tomb lies in time."
I explained, "Legend has it that the Black Concubine was the true queen chosen by the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Then, who was the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty? The emperor who named the country 'Qing' was Huang Taiji, not Nurhaci."
"The capital of the Qing Dynasty was moved from Xingjing (Xinbin, Liaoning) to Dongjing (Liaoyang, Liaoning), and then to Shengjing (Shenyang). The country was renamed 'Qing'. The emperor in the legend should be Huang Taiji."
"The shadow of Zhu Ying's death in Taizi River lingered in Huang Taiji's mind, so he built a river sacrifice platform in Liaoyang. But do you think Huang Taiji, a great ruler, would succumb to a ghost? Even if he gave in at the beginning, it was because he was unable to suppress Zhu Ying at that time. Once he had time, he would definitely try every means to eliminate future troubles."
I paused and said, "So, I suspect that the Black Concubine's Tomb upstream of the Taizi River is actually some kind of restriction to suppress Zhu Ying."
I casually picked up a piece of paper and a pen and said, "Look, Zhu Ying was killed outside Liaoyang City, and his body was buried in Dongjing Mausoleum. After the Daizi River was renamed Taizi River, Zhu Ying could become a river guardian deity because he was canonized by the emperor. If people continue to worship him, Zhu Ying is likely to become a ghost god. Perhaps, he has become a ghost god in the river, which is why Taizi River has been flooding year after year."
"It is actually very simple to break Zhu Ying's position as a ghost. Just rename Taizihe, and that will be enough to destroy his position. However, Huang Taiji cannot and dare not change what Nurhaci has decided. Therefore, he can only find another way to restrict Zhu Ying."
"With Huang Taiji's status, it is not difficult to summon the shamans to get rid of Zhu Ying. The difficulty lies in the fact that Zhu Ying is his biological brother. In ancient times, death was the greatest honor. If Huang Taiji suppresses Zhu Ying with great fanfare, he will probably be cursed for all eternity. If he changes the name, maybe it will be okay."
Monk Shi couldn't help but interrupt when he heard this: "You mean, Huang Taiji sent imperial envoys and shamans to confer titles on a concubine, but in the end it was just to cover up the truth and suppress an innocent soul? That's too much effort, isn't it?"
I looked at Monk Shi: "If, in order to suppress the heroes, we must sacrifice a person with the status of an imperial concubine? In other words, what is so special about the Black Concubine?"
Monk Shi couldn't help but be stunned for a moment before he nodded and said, "Then it makes sense. Go on."
I picked up a pen and wrote on the paper: "Sanxi is in the upper reaches of Taizi River, and Liaoyang is in the lower reaches. If Huang Taiji wants to suppress Zhu Ying, he has to make some moves in the upper reaches. However, I don't think they will set up the altar by the river, or even close to the river."
Lao Du couldn't help but ask: "Why?"
"I won't tell you about the theories of the art. I'll just ask you a question." I asked back, "How many times has the area along the Taizi River been developed and renovated since liberation? If the Black Concubine's Tomb was built on the shore, would it still exist now?"
Old Du was stunned by my question. But he quickly came to his senses: "You mean, the Black Concubine's Tomb is in the mountains along the Taizi River? How much manpower do you need to find it? Is it in time?"
I said in a deep voice: "Since the Black Concubine's Tomb is to suppress the heroes, it needs a suitable location. Bring me the map."
Lao Du quickly brought me a map. I pointed at the map and said, "According to the convention of place names, the south of the mountain and the north of the water are Yang. Liaoyang is named Yang because it is on the north bank of Taizi River. Zhu Ying was beheaded before crossing the river, so he should have died on the south bank of Taizi River. Therefore, the location of the Black Concubine's Tomb must be on the south bank."
I put my hand on the map and slowly pushed it upwards: "Here. If you draw a straight line from this location, it is just above the south of Liaoyang City. If there is a mountainous area here, the Black Concubine's Tomb should be here. This location is just right to overlook the southern bank of Liaoyang."
"I'll check!"
"Wait a minute!" Lao Du turned to leave, but I stopped him. "According to Wenxin, he must have encountered a ghost from the Black Concubine's Tomb in the mountains near his hometown. As long as we find Wenxin's original household registration, we can roughly determine the location of the Black Concubine's Tomb."
"Okay!" Old Du then turned and left.
I said to Monk Shi, "Help me find something in the clinic that can identify Xie Wanhua's scent. Hair or clothing will do. I want to see how capable Xie Wanhua is in avoiding my calculations."
"No problem!" Monk Shi and I searched the entire clinic from beginning to end, but we didn't find many things that could be used. It's no wonder that warlocks are very concerned about the treatment of their hair. After all, no one wants to be found by an enemy who is good at cursing.
I was lucky to find three or four things in the clinic that were barely useful. When Shi Heshang and I finished packing, Lao Du also came back. However, this time he came back with two platoons of armed police.
I looked at the armed police behind Lao Du and said, "Lao Du, what do you mean by bringing these people back?"
Lao Du said in embarrassment: "This incident is too serious. I explained it to the higher-ups several times, and they at least believed me. But the bureau was worried about us rushing up to search the mountain, so they insisted that I bring two platoons of armed police with me."
"Nonsense!" I was immediately furious. "Do you think we are going to catch bandits or fugitives? We are going to fight ghosts! You let them follow, are you planning to let them go up and die?"
Lao Du rubbed his hands and said, "I have no choice. The higher-ups said this is an order, and I must execute it. Besides..."
Lao Du looked at me and said, "Besides, this may involve cultural relics protection, and the higher-ups are not too reassured."
Lao Du’s words were not clear, but I guessed a little bit.
Ordinary police officers may never come across a case of a sorcerer killing someone in their lifetime. However, Sanxi City had seen several cases in just one month, so it was impossible not to pay attention to it. Someone wanted to test how much the police force could deter the sorcerer.
I can't explain this kind of thing to them.
I told them directly, "In fact, sorcerers are afraid of the government. They don't want to have anything to do with the government, and they don't want to get into trouble." But I was afraid that no one would believe it. After all, they had never been exposed to sorcery.
If we don’t bring these armed police with us, we won’t be able to succeed this time.
I simply stood up and said to the armed police: "If you want to follow me, I have no objection, but remember two things. First, you are not allowed to do anything you are not allowed to do; second, if you are told to do something, you must do it immediately. Otherwise, I will not be responsible for any problems that arise."
I had finished speaking, but the soldiers didn't react at all. I couldn't help but look at Lao Du, who pointed at a platoon leader with a red face, and the other party shouted, "Did you understand?"
"I understand!" After the armed police soldier responded in a loud voice, I couldn't help but frown.
They are soldiers, and obeying orders is their first duty. But the problem is that I am not the one who issues orders, and they will not completely obey my command. In some cases, if the platoon leader gives a completely different order, what consequences will occur? I dare not imagine.
I was just about to say that I refused to cooperate, but I saw the look in Lao Du's eyes.
I knew this kind of cooperation was inevitable, so I could only nod and say, "Let's go."
I didn't say anything after I got in the car. Lao Du knew that I was unhappy, so he could only find a topic to talk about: "Xiao Wu, this is the information I investigated. Wen Xin's hometown is called Wenjiatun, and there is a mountainous area behind it. The location you pointed out on the map is just near Wenjiatun."
Lao Du handed over the information: "Just as Wen Xin said, there is indeed a legend about the Black Concubine circulating in the local area, and the so-called Fish Viewing Terrace is also near the village."
I was surprised and asked, "You mean the Fish Viewing Terrace is still there?"
Lao Du nodded and said, "That's what the local police said. I'm not sure either. We'll know when we get there."
While Lao Du and I were talking, the driver drove the police car to the edge of the mountain. Lao Du pointed to a village not far away and said, "That's Wenjiatun."
I took a quick look around. Although there was a river next to Wenjiatun, it was definitely not the Taizi River. How could the Fish Viewing Platform be located in such a place
When I was puzzled, Lao Du had already brought a policeman over: "This is Li Qiang, he is a local, he knows where the Guanyutai is."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, I said directly, "Take me to the Fish Viewing Terrace right away."
Without saying anything, Li Qiang led me up the mountain. Before we had gone far, the armed police platoon leader couldn't help asking, "Comrade Li Qiang, are you going up the mountain? Shouldn't the fish-watching platform be by the water? Where does the water come from on this mountain?"
Li Qiang said as he walked, "There is really no water on this mountain. Only during the rainy season can a few streams flow down the mountain. However, according to the old people, the Fish Viewing Terrace is in the mountain. Isn't that strange?"
Without waiting for the other party to answer, Li Qiang said, "I grew up here since I was a child. People who have seen the fish-watching platform ask the village elders: Where can we watch fish when there is no water?"
"The older generation said that the Fish-Watching Terrace was a name left by the older generation. No one can explain how a Fish-Watching Terrace could appear on the top of a hill."
I can understand this. Legends are like this. Some of them change as they are passed on, and some of them may be lost later. No one can tell what the original story was.
Only after seeing the Fish-Watching Terrace can we know what kind of place it is.
After we walked a distance further, Li Qiang pointed to a huge rock in the distance and said, "That's the Fish Viewing Terrace." (To be continued)