Chapter Seventy-Four: The Stone Carvings of Yishan Pass
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Li Zisheng gathered all the books he had brought with him, along with those given to him by Deng Qing and the academy, and moved them into the underground chamber. The primary focus was on Mr. Zhong’s books. Previously, Li Zisheng had been puzzled as to why Mr. Zhong had brought so many volumes when he arrived in Lingzhou. Although he still did not fully understand, these books now proved invaluable.
Once inside the chamber, he placed all the books in the central room. The light there remained bright—the glow of the luminous pearl showing no sign of dimming.
Baliang went off to prepare food, while Li Zisheng began to pore over the ancient texts.
Most of these works were historical records. Li Zisheng’s sole objective was to find anything about the stele he had seen; he remembered its exact features clearly, which made the search much easier.
He sensed the stele was no ordinary artifact. The intense anxiety displayed by both parties concerning it was telling enough.
As Li Zisheng leafed through the ancient books, Baliang finished preparing the food. The master and servant ate simply, then Li Zisheng resumed studying the texts.
Bored, Baliang, though not as literate as Li Zisheng, also began flipping through the pile of books that had belonged to Mr. Zhong.
Li Zisheng noticed this and did not stop him, letting Baliang read at his leisure.
The chamber grew quietly still.
Suddenly, Baliang’s exclamation shattered the silence.
“Master! Master! Come quickly—look! Isn’t this the same stele those four burly men were carrying just now? Don’t you think so?”
Baliang hurriedly handed over the book in his hands.
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Li Zisheng took the book and, sure enough, the stele matched his earlier suspicions—it was an ancient artifact recorded in the texts.
The Zou Yishan Stele
The Yishan Inscription, carved in the 28th year of Qin Shi Huang’s reign (219 BCE), written by Li Si in tall 218-centimeter characters, 84 centimeters wide. Also known as the Yishan Qin Seal Script Stele. It commemorates the achievements of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, inscribed in Li Si’s small seal script. Later, Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei climbed the mountain and ordered the stele to be overturned. Over successive generations, rubbings were made as models, but the locals, burdened by imperial demands, piled firewood beneath it, resulting in a wildfire that burned the stele. Today, what remains of the Yishan Stele are newly carved replicas.
Emperor established the nation, beginning anew in the past, heirs called kings through the ages. Suppressing rebellion, his might trembled the four corners, his martial virtue upright and just. Barbarian ministers obeyed orders, swiftly vanquishing six tyrannical powers. In the sixth year of his reign, he was honored as high and filial, his virtues shining. After presenting the Taicheng, he bestowed special grace and personally toured distant lands. Ascending Mount Yi, ministers followed, all aspiring to greatness. Recalling chaotic times, dividing lands to found states to restore order. Battles day by day, bloodshed on the plains, from ancient times. No ruler numbered in the tens of thousands, even the Five Emperors, could suppress them. Now the emperor unites the world, war no longer arises. Disasters are quelled, the people live in peace, benefits endure long. Ministers recite these summaries, carving this joyful stone to record the annals.
Reading this, Li Zisheng gained some understanding. The inscription on Mount Yi recorded the glorious deeds of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Mount Yi is located in the Qilu region—the land of the Zhou rites, the site of Mount Tai, a national symbol of great significance. After visiting Mount Yi, the emperor proceeded to perform the Fengshan sacrifice at Mount Tai.
What Deng Qing and the others carried was this very Yishan Stele—the stone left behind as Emperor Qin Shi Huang journeyed east, passing through Zou City and Mount Yi.
However, as the text explained, the original stele had been damaged by wildfires, leaving it incomplete. The current Yishan Stele is a new engraving. Most notably, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei had taken away the original, so the authentic stele was now lost.
A sudden realization thundered through Li Zisheng’s mind. The situation began to take shape.
Now, with Emperor Xuanzong of Tang preparing the Fengshan sacrifice at Mount Tai, Deng Qing—or rather the forces behind him—would surely make a move to interfere with this grand ritual.
His mentor, Cheng Zhongliang, a man of utmost integrity and a great scholar of ritual studies, had taken great joy in the emperor’s planned Fengshan. Such a rare event, once in a millennium, was a crowning achievement for a scholar of rites. Each day, his mentor burned incense, bathed, and dressed with solemn dignity, all to participate in this great occasion. Yet, unexpectedly, he was treacherously ambushed.
Though his mentor could no longer attend, Li Zisheng vowed to fulfill this long-cherished wish on his behalf. If Deng Qing sought to sabotage it, then though his strength was modest, the greatest disasters often begin with the smallest cracks.
“Baliang, bring out the writing implements from the chamber.”
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Li Zisheng instructed.
Baliang, pleased to have something to do, eagerly obeyed.
“Memorandum to Zhang Gongdao,
Today, His Majesty governs the Four Seas with benevolence as heaven’s will, specially bestowing a letter of pardon and entrusting you with authority according to your talents. Should you cleanse accumulated stains and dispel suspicions... There is a military officer in Lingzhou, Deng Qing, who is fond of antiquities. By chance, I came upon the Nine-Section Staff, the Yishan Stele, and Zhang Jiao’s writings... I only hope, Zhang Gong, that you trace origins and restore the source, acting with discretion...”
Li Zisheng wrote at length. At first glance, this letter might seem a mere recommendation to a superior, praising an individual’s talents. Yet its crucial passages subtly exposed Deng Qing’s character. Though seemingly complimentary, the words hinted to Zhang, the military governor, that Deng Qing harbored treasonous intent—especially regarding the Yishan Stele and suspected interference with the Mount Tai Fengshan.
Why write such a cryptic letter to Governor Zhang? The reason was simple.
Li Zisheng had learned that Zhang’s father was Zhang Shuo, the elder chancellor with almost unfathomable power, one who could reach the ears of heaven itself. Whether the forces backing Deng Qing included Governor Zhang was uncertain. Sending such a letter risked walking into a trap. Yet Li Zisheng was cautious; Deng Qing’s attitude towards Zhang was distant and hostile, unmistakably genuine.
Moreover, by overhearing Deng Qing’s scornful criticism of Chancellor Zhang, Li Zisheng became certain that Zhang the governor was unlikely allied with Deng Qing.
Still, human hearts are inscrutable. Thus, Li Zisheng’s letter was deliberately ambiguous. If allies, the letter would be taken as mere recommendation. If not, the underlying story could be inferred from the text’s subtext.
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