Chapter 197: The Five Emperors Ruling the World (Ⅲ) (1/2)
Chapter 197: The Five Emperors Ruling the World (Ⅲ)
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
When Yu was 30 years old, he met Lady Tushan of the Tu Shan clan and fell in love at first sight with her. They eventually became married. With Tushan Tribe being a powerful matriarchal Tribe in the Dongyi region, he moved to his wife's hometown as a live-in son-in-law.
Even though he was in a matriarchal society, Yu received the great support of the Dongyi region and it laid a foundation for his later achievements. At the moment, he and his wife were still on their honeymoon and enjoying themselves. Emperor Shun became increasingly reassured when he received reports about Yu's new life.
But there was still something that confused Emperor Shun and he called in a meeting with his ministers. ”I have considered your recommendation that Yu be appointed as the officer responsible for regulating the rivers and watercourses, and I find it workable. But I have one question. I have never heard that Gun has any descendants. What's the reason for that?”
One of the ministers came forward and replied cautiously, ”It's said that Yu isn't born to Gun's wife. He was taken out from Gun's stomach when he died. Now he's being taught by Abundant Treasures Buddha, a senior fellow apprentice of the sovereign's mentor.” Emperor Shun was astonished that his face paled and he couldn't speak for a moment. After a pause, he asked in wonder, ”There's such a weird thing in this world?”
Another officer stepped forward. ”Your Majesty, you don't have to be surprised. There are many precedents for this. The Heavenly Sovereign, Fuxi, was born when her mother, Huaxu, stepped on the footprints of a Giant in the Thunder Marsh. The Earthly Sovereign, God Farmer, was born when his mother, Rensi, met a spiritual dragon and became pregnant. With there being Mysterious Signs about Yu, that means he's also a legendary figure.” Emperor was finally relieved and gave orders to summon Yu.
Yu was on his honeymoon when he received the imperial edict. He reluctantly bade his wife farewell and commenced his career of regulating rivers and watercourses. He paid a visit to Abundant Treasures Buddha before leaving. His mentor heaved a sigh and took a roll of bamboo slips. ”This is your father's relic. Now that you're going to take up your father's mantle, it's time for you to have this. Do your best in your new responsibilities. I'll back you up behind.”
His mentor didn't let him go empty-handed, giving him two more things. ”I have refined two tools for you. This ax is called the Mount-cutting Axe, used for dredging riverways and regulating water. This is the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod, used for investigating water levels and easing the sea. I hope you put them to good use.”
After combing his father's notes and his experience, he ended up with a method that would later become famous:”better to divert than to block”. He then left for the capital of the Human Tribe to pay his respects to Emperor Shun.
Emperor Shun was satisfied with Yu's proposed method and conferred him the title of the minister in charge of regulating rivers and watercourses. Yu took the job without hesitation.
Together with Yi and Lord of Millet, he recruited others to assist him in this task. After investigating the waterways and learning lessons from Gun's failure, he decided to reform the regulating method by emphasizing diverting the water flow rather than blocking it. He personally walked over hills and dales and crossed numerous rivers, all the way to the east to measure the terrain and erect surveyor's poles to regulate the waterways.
Yu led the civilian workers to follow the surveyor's poles, excavating the mountains and building banks before pools to dredge waterways and guide the flooded water back into the sea. He never once complained of hardship, always racking his brain and never resting in his quest to regulate the rivers and watercourses.
He left his wife, Lady Tushan, not long after their wedding and began his career. Later, when he passed by their home, he heard the sounds of his wife giving birth. He didn't enter even when he heard the cries of his son. When he passed by their home for the third time, his son was in his mother's arms and knew how to wave and call him father. But he merely waved at his wife and son in acknowledgment and left without entering.
While he was excavating the mountains and waterways, he was attacked by some monsters of the Demon Tribe. Yu helplessly sought his mentor's help. Abundant Treasures Buddha led the Tribe of Severity disciples to kill the Demon Tribe monsters, securing Yu a smooth regulating process.
After 13 years worth of hard work, they finally excavated countless mountains, dredged innumerable rivers, and built numerous dams, guiding all rivers to flow into the sea. Yu succeeded in regulating the rivers and watercourses, solving the flooding problem once and for all. Since the flooded areas were too wet, he had Yi distribute seeds and teach the people how to plant crops.
Without Wu Zhiqi's interference, Yu's task had been smooth. The ordinary monsters of the Demon Tribe were defeated easily by the Tribe of Severity disciples. After several years had passed, Yu had excavated nine mountains and dredged nine rivers, leading all rivers to the sea.
Yu's success earned him a great reputation in the Human Tribe, surpassing even Emperor Shun. Shun became worried that Yu might overturn his throne. He had the same worries when Yu's father, Gun, succeeded and secretly assassinated him before another flood hit the Human Tribe.