Prince Li Chengfeng, exceptionally intelligent and fond of studying Daoist principles, possessed a remarkable ability to learn and integrate knowledge. With Li Shizhen's guidance, he swiftly combined the "Chao Xian's Heavenly Dao Sect," the "Central Plains' Daoism," and the "Jurchen's Shamanism" into a cohesive whole. Centered on Shamanism, he innovatively developed a new cultivation system named "Mujige."
The name "Mujige" itself originated from a Chinese idiom, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," found in Zhuangzi. The full tale describes the mantis, intent on catching the cicada, oblivious to the oriole lurking behind. The oriole, focused on the mantis, is unaware of the human beneath the tree aiming at it.
Thus, "Mujige" came to be known as the "Sticky Rod Bureau," literally an agency responsible for using rods to strike birds, colloquially referred to as the "Blood Dropper."
However, the most accurate translation would be a modern term.
The food chain.
Seeing the Chao Xian prince's keen intellect, Li Shizhen imparted his knowledge of Daoism to him, including the "art of physiognomy." After mastering this art, Li Chengfeng's Daoist prowess grew immensely, making him a grandmaster. His disciples and their descendants spread throughout the Eight Banners, significantly boosting the Jurchens' combat effectiveness. This explains how a mere tens of thousands of Jurchens could defeat the Ming Dynasty at its peak and rule China for three hundred years.
Furthermore, the medical and herbal knowledge Li Shizhen taught the Jurchens reduced their casualty rates, making the Jurchen army even more formidable.
Therefore, in a sense, what Yaoyao said was true: Li Shizhen's journey to the Northeast indirectly led to the downfall of the Ming Dynasty.
This is not to belittle Li Shizhen in any way; it was a butterfly effect, the outcome of which was unpredictable even to those involved. At that time, Nurhaci's ultimate ambition was merely to unite the Jianzhou Jurchen tribes and become the leader of tens of thousands of Jurchens.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival that year, Li Shizhen declared he needed to return and continue writing his book. Out of respect for him, Nurhaci allowed him to leave. This led to the subsequent completion, publication, and widespread dissemination of "Compendium of Materia Medica," which endures to this day.
This is also why, after the Qing Dynasty unified China, Li Shizhen was enshrined alongside Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty in Medicine King Temples across the country, receiving worship from the populace, thus solidifying Li Shizhen's historical standing.
"So, that Li Chengfeng was your master." After hearing the story, my mind conjured the image of the statue in the Ziyang Temple atop Tieshan Mountain. No wonder he looked so refined, with those narrow, long eyes, like a young heartthrob. So, he was from Chao Xian.
"That's why Yaoyao is so fond of you," Shen Xingyue chuckled. "Your name also contains 'Chengfeng'!"
"My grandfather gave me my name. He liked Li Bai's line, 'When the time comes to ride the wind and break the waves, I will set my cloud-like sail to cross the vast sea,' which is why he named me." I explained.
This poem is now more frequently heard in various student speech competitions, serving as a motivational conclusion. In reality, many speakers are unaware of the poem's true meaning; it's not purely inspirational, but rather expresses Li Bai's longing for "immortal attainment."
Furthermore, the PPT presentations often displayed with these student speeches, featuring a grand ship setting sail, are entirely mistaken.
"When the time comes to ride the wind and break the waves, I will set my cloud-like sail to cross the vast sea" does not refer to sailing a boat.
It means "to soar through the sky, break through waves with the wind, use clouds as sails, and fly across the sea," having nothing to do with ships at all.
Two words suffice to describe it: Ascension.
If this is not cultivation, what is it...