Chapter 257 The First Emperor
Chapter 257 The First Emperor
"You are weak!" Elder Shuyi suddenly taunted him with a low yet powerful voice, "You will just become a hindrance to them, you will not be able to do anything!"
"If being a hindrance means that I will become a feed to the enemy, not being able to even hurt a single beast, I will gladly do so!" Pu retorted with determination, shocking everyone. "If it means that I can offer myself to the enemy to let a single warrior return safely, then let me be a hindrance!"
He suddenly struck the bottom of his spear shaft on the ground, causing the land to quake, "If it means all that, then I will become a hindrance!"
"As long as I can be of use.."
"As long as I can be with presence.."
"As long as I am alive!.."
As his voice got louder and louder, fuller and more dominant, the moon in the sky suddenly shone with an odd light, which was noticed by everyone, even the boars.
Elder Shuyi and the people were so shocked that they unintentionally backed down and returned within the Inner Mound. "This.." Elder Shuyi gasped with shock as he felt the pressure being emitted from the Young Chieftain.
Down below, Chieftain Mein looked up and saw his son filled with determination. His heart was then filled with pride.
Back at the Central Mound, a woman of gracious bearing grasped her chest as he heard the powerful voice of Pu, "My son has grown up." Tears fell down her cheeks as she cried out.
Gradually, the light from the moon grew larger and larger, until a more familiar ball of light revealed itself to everyone.
"The Sun!"
"Why is the Sun showing itself at night?!"
Suddenly, the boars grunted uncontrollably, seemingly perturbed and scared.
"I will fight for my people and my land!" Pu bellowed, causing a strong shockwave to spread across the Plains.
Boom!
The light of the Sun focused onto him, making him look like a glorious deity, filled with power and majesty. The spear in his hand changed form, with its shaft transforming into white wood, and the sharp stone on its end becoming that of an iron, emblazoned with runes and glorious patterns.
A silky white robe formed and enveloped his body, bordered with majestic golden lines and exuding the aura of an eternal ruler.
His hair grew and lifted itself, and from the sky, a golden crown descended, suppressing any malicious thoughts from the people and the beasts.
The crown rested itself upon his head, and with that, his aura exploded, and he exuded the bearing of a true ruler.
Behind him, a silhouette of a god showed itself, and authoritatively, it spoke, "He is the rightful ruler. Follow him, and you shall receive my favor. Worship me, and you shall receive my blessing."
"It's the Sun God!"
"Glory to the Sun God!"
"Glory!"
"Praise to you, oh Eternal Sun God!"
"This land is ours.." Pu opened his mouth and spoke together with the voice of the Sun God, "..and no one shall seize it from us!"
As he said that, the light from the sun retracted, yet still showed itself in the sky. Pu himself became the Sun, bringing brightness to the land with his aura and majesty. "Defend our homeland!" Pu raised his spear, pointing at the boars, and proclaimed with authority as he charged at the horde.
"To the Emperor!" Not even knowing what he called Pu, Elder Shuyi charged with his walking stick at hand.
"To the Emperor!" Not knowing why they responded, the workers and women were filled with battle spirit as they rushed down the mound.
Below, even Khan the rebellious was affected by the battle spirit that was enveloping the entire Plains. "Kill!" He shouted as he raised his ax to chop a boar.
"Make way for the Emperor!" Mein, who in his heart had already relinquished his position as the Chieftain, yelled, announcing the arrival of his glorious son.
"Charge!"
"Kill!"
"Squeal!"
The cries of war echoed throughout the Plains, and even went past the forests, the rivers, and the seas.
Centuries ago, their tribe that resided on the Plain was in constant danger. From the beasts of the North, the floods from the river, the drought of the summer, and the seasons of storms. Although faced with these calamities, the people of the Plains couldn't even migrate because of the greater risks that they might face outside the mounds they have made.
Through centuries of camaraderie, hardship, wisdom, and strength, their ancestors have rooted themselves in these very dangerous and perilous lands. To protect it, thousands of lives had been lost without regret within their hearts. These lands are already theirs. To leave is to disregard the sacrifices that their ancestors have made for it.
Looking at the man at the forefront of the battle, the people of the Plains collectively thought, 'Now that we have him, we do not need to leave this land anymore.
We do not need to fear and cower from beasts any longer.
We do not need to succumb to hunger any longer.
Now that we have him.'
With the rise of those collective thoughts, the shine that Pu was emitting together with the crown grew and grew as large as the sun. The faith of the people in him and to the Sun God has given him the grandest authority in their world.
As the last boar was killed with the others escaping into the woods, Pu's grand image with his back facing them was imprinted into the minds of the people. When he turned around, his father, Mein, was the first one to initiate the clamor, "Glory to The Emperor!"
"Glory to The Sun God!"
"Glory to The Sun of God!"
"Glory to The Emperor, The Son of God!"
The people, shouting varying praises and acclamation that came from within their hearts, kowtowed towards his figure. In the past, the Chieftains that would ascend to rule always had to go through a ceremony first, being blessed by the Sun God and the people at dawn, when the sun slowly rises to the Heavenly Sky.
Now, such a grandiose ceremony wasn't even needed as he was already blessed by the Sun God himself and received the approval and faith of his people.
Even when it's just past midnight, the Sun had already shown itself. That, by itself, is already a sign of the coming of a new ruler. To not receive approval from his people is simply impossible.
This moment would be remembered by all generations to come, whether it be by myth or truth to the future.
After that night, as the sun rose from the eastern horizon, the warriors of the Plains marched behind Pu as they made their way towards the Chief's residence.
By his side was his father, who had now reduced himself to a general position for his son to legitimize his rule over the Plains. Even without that, though, everyone knew that his rule had already been legitimized by the Sun God.
As they marched, the people walked with them, be it men, women, old people, young ones, and even the domesticated animals of the residents.
A while later, they finally arrived in front of the Chief's residence. In front, his mother, Shimei, smiled with tears of happiness running down her eyes, a look of pride could be seen within them.
His father made his way towards his mother's side and looked at him with a smile on his face.
When he reached in front of them, he removed the crown from the top of his head and gave it to his incredulous mother and father. What he did next, which shocked all of the people, was that he immediately knelt and kowtowed towards them three times.
"My son, you are already the ruler of this land. Such gestures are not needed for you." Mein lowered himself and picked him up.
"Your father is right, Pu." His mother added, "As the Emperor of this land, you carry the pride and being of this domain. You must not lower yourself to anyone."
"No, mother and father." Pu shook his head as he properly stood up, "The Emperor is the servant and representative of the people. Although I sit higher than them, it is only to see them all and hear their pleas and not to trample and to be greater than them."
He then continued with respect and dignity and said to them, "Before I became the Emperor, I was your son. The Imperial Title is but a title whilst being your son always and always will be my stature." He then turned around to the people and proclaimed, "To be filial to one's origin is to be filial to Him. To be respectful to the populace is to be respectful to His Grace. It is one of the doctrines of The Sun God, a doctrine so pure and simple that we must abide by it to achieve basic civility and benevolent morality."