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Ning Cheng immediately took out another photo in front of Bai Yujing. The photo appeared to be a black and white image: "In the autumn of 1944, Cheng Lao Liu from Changlingyuan Village, along with over a hundred villagers, called themselves Cheng Liuye and claimed the mountain as their own. At that time, Cheng Liuye began digging from the tomb of Wan Guifei. After three days and nights of digging, blasting, and chiseling, they finally broke through the tomb's ceiling, and all of Wan Guifei's burial goods were looted."
"Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Six months later, Cheng Lao Liu clashed with the Nationalist Party's garrison troops and was shot dead in the river near Gongbuchang Village. His wife and concubines' properties were all seized by the Nationalist Party's garrison troops."
Ning Cheng pointed to a painting in the photo, which depicted a towering tree reaching into the clouds, with a person climbing up it. The painting was incredibly vivid and clearly created by a master artist: "This is one of Ming Xianzong's favorite paintings. After Wan Guifei's death, it was buried with her in her tomb. Mr. Bai, upon seeing this painting, do you have anything to say?"
Bai Yujing knew that Wan Guifei was Zhu Jianshen, Ming Xianzong's most beloved consort. Logically, an Imperial Noble Consort should not be qualified for burial in the imperial mausoleum, but Ming Xianzong broke this precedent: "Is this Jianmu? I heard that in ancient times, someone climbed Jianmu all the way to the celestial realm. This painting should depict that legend, right?"
Ning Cheng nodded: "That's right, but the legend is not just like that. During the Ming Dynasty, Ming Yingzong, also known as Emperor Rui Zhu Qizhen, who was Ming Xianzong's father, received a report from Duke of Loyalty Shi Heng stating that the Bai Ren clan in the southwest was hiding an Immortality Elixir!"
Bai Yujing's expression changed immediately: "Immortality Elixir?"
Ning Cheng paid close attention to Bai Yujing's expression: "Mr. Bai, do you know something?"
Bai Yujing did not expect Ning Cheng to be so perceptive and nodded: "There are many legends about the Immortality Elixir. It is said that Zhou Mu Wang once went to Kunlun Mountain to seek the Queen Mother of the West for the Immortality Elixir. Qin Shi Huang also sent Xu Fu out to sea in search of elixirs. Throughout history, emperors have continuously sought such things; it's not particularly unusual. However, later emperors basically stopped believing in this matter. Shi Heng must have been talking nonsense; I remember historical records state that Shi Heng was merely a sycophant who was later killed by Zhu Qizhen for amassing too much power!"
Ning Cheng nodded: "Whether it's true or not is hard to say. Ming Yingzong had Shi Heng send people for investigation. However, shortly after Shi Heng died, both Ming Yingzong and Zhu Qizhen passed away as well, and this matter was left unresolved!"
"However, during his son Ming Xianzong's reign—who we often refer to as Chenghua Emperor—this issue was brought up again. Ming Xianzong became interested once more because immortality is an irresistible temptation for an emperor who already possesses supreme power; having a long life to enjoy such authority is simply irresistible!"
"By that time, however, the Bai Ren had become leaders among the southwestern ethnic minorities and held a strategic position in Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan; they were not an easy tribe to subdue and frequently rebelled. They were also a significant concern for the Ming court. Ming Xianzong launched campaigns against the Bai Ren but faced prolonged conflicts that did not meet his expectations. Even after Ming Xianzong's death, the Bai Ren remained active in the southwest and continued opposing the Ming court!"
"You see this painting; it also represents how the Bai Ren became a thorn in Ming Xianzong's side—something he could never forget during his lifetime."
Bai Yujing did not expect there to be such a story: "Both emperors have been thinking about this for generations. It seems that Bai Ren possessing the Immortality Elixir might actually be true? These emperors are not fools; if there were no solid evidence, they wouldn't have deceived both generations of emperors like this."
Ning Cheng laughed: "Not just two generations of emperors, during the Wanli period, Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun launched the final campaign against Bai Ren, mobilizing 140,000 troops for the 'Flying Edict Campaign' against Bai Ren. After a significant defeat of Bai Ren, they pursued them relentlessly, ultimately leading to the disappearance of the Bai Ren people from history."
Bai Yujing shook his head: "This is truly a tragedy. However, what you want to say isn't just this, right? What about that painting you mentioned that was excavated from the tomb of Ming Xianzong Wan Guifei? What is the story behind it?"
Ning Cheng continued: "In ancient times, someone climbed along Jianmu all the way to the immortal realm. There really was such a person named Ji, who is an ancestor of the Bai Ren. Ancient texts record that Ji followed Zhou Wuwang in his campaign against Zhou and participated in the Battle of Muye. The leader of Bai Ren assisted King Wu in defeating the Shang and was granted the title of Bo Marquis, establishing the Bohou Kingdom."
"But according to the legends of the Bai Ren, it is said that Ji fought alongside Zhou Wuwang in many battles and once discovered a mysterious place where he found a colossal tree reaching to the heavens. He climbed this tree and reached the immortal realm, bringing back the Immortality Elixir."
Bai Yujing opened his mouth in surprise, not expecting such a legend. He had only seen it briefly mentioned in myths and never thought it could be true.
Ning Cheng nodded, seemingly pleased with Bai Yujing's reaction: "When I first learned about this, I had a similar expression. It seems that Shi Heng also found out about this information from somewhere and told Ming Yingzong, which led to several generations of Ming emperors being obsessed with it, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the Bo People."
Bai Yujing seemed confused: "Since Ji brought back the Immortality Elixir, why didn't he consume it himself?"
Ning Cheng nodded: "I am not sure either. However, according to records from other groups, their ancestor Ji indeed did not consume the Immortality Elixir, but instead took it into his tomb. Before he died, he told his son to regard this elixir as a forbidden item and not to allow future generations to mention it. But you know how it goes; the more something is forbidden from being mentioned, the more people remember it clearly."
At that moment, Bai Yujing seemed to suddenly understand what the ancestor of the Bo People meant. Imagining Xu Lei, also known as Yaoji, it was clear that this Immortality Elixir had its drawbacks. The immortality it promised was far from what ordinary people imagined; hence Ji chose not to consume it and instead took it into his tomb.
Only then did Bai Yujing remember that Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun ultimately destroyed the Bai Ren: "After Ming Shenzong wiped out the Bo People, what happened next? You mentioned when you came to see me that Catherine brought a group of people and secretly infiltrated the Ming Dynasty Tombs, taking something very important to you all. What exactly was that?"
Ning Cheng clapped his hands: "Mr. Bai, you've hit on the key point again!"
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