When Wu Nian saw Liu Donglai, he was not just curious about what he could do. And respect his age.
The ancients said that seventy years old is rare, let alone an eighty-year-old man?
He went back to the bedroom first, without washing with water, he took a cloth to wipe his sweat, put on a light blue narrow-sleeved brocade robe, and came to the living room.
An old man with white hair but good spirits was sitting in the guest seat with a black cane beside him.
An old man with gray hair stood next to the old man with white hair.
The two are probably father and son.
"Old Liu Donglai, let's pay homage to the general." Liu Donglai stood up tremblingly and saluted Wu Nian.
"Old sir, there is no need to be polite." Wu Nian walked up, held Liu Donglai down, and then came to the main seat and sat down.
"Come here, watch the tea." Wu Nian raised his head and shouted to the soldiers outside the door.
"Yes." The soldier responded and immediately went down. Before the tea was served, Wu Nian asked: "Old sir, look at your appearance. You should be from a scholarly family, and you should be a scholar. You should not be blind."
"You can tell me what you think. Once you have said it, I will implement it immediately and thank you on behalf of the millions of people in Liaodong. If it is not done well, I will never blame you."
When Liu Donglai heard Wu Nian's words, he immediately became energetic. He nodded proudly and said, "The general is right. The old man does have the reputation of being a scholar. My eldest son, Liu Yong, is also a scholar."
"General." The old man next to him saluted Wu Nian.
Wu Nian returned the salute with clasped fists, very politely, and then listened to Liu Donglai's next words.
"General. Throughout the dynasties, wherever it doesn't rain, you have to pray for rain. Pray for rain from the sky. There are also emperors who personally set up altars to pray for rain."
"Last night, I dreamed of the Dragon King. The Dragon King told me that as long as the general sets up an altar outside the east city to worship the sky, he will come to make clouds and rain."
Liu Donglai's expression was very serious and he said sincerely.
Wu Nian was very speechless. It’s really artificial rainfall. It's just that modern society uses technology to make rain, but in ancient times, people sacrificed to the sky to pray for rain.
Although Wu Nian didn't have much hope, he still felt disappointed after hearing Liu Donglai's words.
However, Wu Nian was not angry with an eighty-year-old man. He smiled and said, "I understand. I will consider this matter."
Although Liu Donglai is superstitious, he is not stupid. When I heard what Wu Nian said, I suddenly felt that this matter might not go anywhere. Somewhat impatiently, he said: "General, what I say is from the bottom of my heart. My dreams are very effective."
"Old sir, don't get excited. I will really consider this matter seriously." Wu Nian had no choice but to say seriously and sincerely.
This time, Liu Dong wrote. He calmed down and said: "General, you must get things done carefully. The Dragon King will really make it rain."
Wu Nian smiled and nodded and said a few words. Soon the tea arrived. Wu Nian patiently drank the cup of tea with Liu Donglai, and then sent his own soldiers to send the eighty-year-old master away respectfully.
"You really don't ask about the common people, you ask about ghosts and gods!" Wu Nian stretched out his hand to wipe the sweat on his forehead, feeling very speechless.
It was so hot here that Wu Nian couldn't stand it after sitting for a while. I was planning to go back to the backyard pavilion to enjoy the shade.
Liu Zhixing walked in from outside.
He was the same. Although he was wearing a single-layer gown, he was sweating profusely due to the heat. However, his manners were very upright, showing his outstanding temperament.
"General." Liu Zhixing saluted Wu Nian with clasped fists.
"It's a coincidence that you came here, Zhixing. I was just about to leave." Wu Nian sat back down again, raised his head and smiled, and then asked, "What's the matter?"
"I would like to ask the general to set up an altar to pray for rain." Liu Zhixing went straight to the point and simply said with cupped fists.
"Huh?!!!!!!!!!" Wu Nian's expression froze.
"General. I know you don't believe in gods and Buddhas, you only believe in ancestors. But this time, don't rush to object, let me finish." Liu Zhixing has been with Wu Nian for many years, and he doesn't know Wu Nian's personality, temperament, and preferences. He quickly bent down and saluted.
"Zhixing, you misunderstood. It's not that I don't want to listen to you. Don't I know you? You are a person who does practical things and don't do these fancy things."
"I was just surprised. Not long ago, a man also asked me to set up an altar to pray for rain."
Wu Nian's expression gradually returned to normal. After shaking his head, he raised his head and asked, "What's your reason? Why did you set up an altar to pray for rain?"
Some people share the same bed but have different dreams, and some people are in harmony with each other.
People do the same thing, but that doesn't mean they have the same purpose. Wu Nian only respected the eighty-year-old man just now because he was older.
But Liu Zhixing. Wu Nian has always regarded him as his confidant and ally.
"Someone actually told the general first?" Liu Zhixing was very surprised. Then when he saw Wu Nian's expression, he knew that Wu Nian refused.
What kind of purpose the other party has is just about to come out.
That really means praying to the sky for rain.
"Yes. Someone said it first. What about you? Tell me your reasons." Wu Nian nodded and said.
Liu Zhixing nodded, took a deep breath, and then said sincerely: "General. There are many records in history books about kings offering sacrifices to the sky to pray for rain."
"There must be some among them who don't believe in ghosts and gods. But why do they still pray for rain?"
"This is not a question of rain, this is a political question."
"Set up an altar and solemnly pray to heaven for rain. It can increase the king's prestige and prove that he has the people and the country in his heart."
"Of course, with the general's current prestige, this is unnecessary."
"But why do the gods and Buddhas in the temples have constant incense? Because when people are desperate, all they can think of are ghosts and gods."
"Now that there is drought and little rain, the people really can't hold on anymore and can't bear it anymore. They need someone to rely on."
"If the general stands up to pray for rain, he can give the people something to rely on."
"Soon. Soon it will rain. Soon, soon, Nojita will come."
"This is asking for rain. It's not really asking for rain. It's asking for life and comfort for the people."
"I also know, General, that you don't believe in gods and Buddhas, but this time, General, please be sure to set up an altar and go up to the altar to pray for rain."
At the end of the speech, Liu Zhixing's attitude was very sincere. He bent down at 60 degrees and saluted with clasped fists.
Wu Nian really didn't expect that there would be so many ways to pray for rain.
Two people asked him for rain today.
But the purpose and ideas are completely different.
One is to really ask for rain, asking the Dragon King to move the clouds and spread the rain.
One is to pray for all people.
They are completely opposite and eccentric.
Wu Nian was silent for a long time, and then he sighed and said: "Kill pigs, cattle and sheep, and invite monks, Taoists, and Confucians. Set up an altar to pray for rain."
