Chapter 44: The Lost Music Scripture

  Liu Bian was stunned. From Cai Yong's words, he not only didn't resent the late Emperor for banishing him to Shuofang, but instead felt indebted to the late Emperor?

  "Your Majesty, I went to Shuofang and later drifted in Jianghu for over a decade. Although it was called exile, in fact, there was another mission. Not long after I arrived at Shuofang, Your Majesty issued an amnesty decree, and I had already become innocent. Why did I still drift in Jianghu instead of returning? No other reason, the mission was not accomplished, so it's not convenient to return yet."

  Liu Bian took a deep breath of cold air, this was beyond his understanding. It seemed that there were other reasons at play here?

  "Your Majesty, I'll start from the beginning and tell you again."

  "Alright, speak slowly." Liu Bian hastily ordered the attendants to withdraw and prepared to listen carefully to Cai Yong's explanation. To prevent Cai Yong's mouth from getting dry, he even specially prepared some light wine and personally poured a cup for Cai Yong.

  At this scene, Cai Yong's eyes twitched and old tears flowed horizontally, and it took a long time to calm down.

  "Do you know your destiny, Your Majesty?"

  "Destiny?" Liu Bian was stunned, are you going to calculate destiny like Xu Shao?

  "It's not bad, people are born with different fates, and their innate abilities are different. Some people are born intelligent, some are born foolish, some are born strong, and some are born weak, all due to their different fates. This is what they were given by heaven, and no one can change it. However, what was given by heaven does not necessarily have to be revealed in the world, just like jade may be hidden in a stone, but not everyone can become a treasure. The vast majority of people do not know their own fate, and live a muddled life, only a small number of people, either because they have enlightened themselves about their fate, or because they have been guided by a wise person, follow their natural tendencies, and cultivate themselves, and thus are able to surpass ordinary people, achieve great things, and establish their careers."

  "Wait a minute." Liu Bian raised his hand and interrupted Cai Yong. He remembered something that was similar to what Cai Yong had just said.

  Even in the 21st century, many people believe that human potential has not been fully tapped, and even the cleverest Einstein only used 10% of his brain power. In this life, he also encountered similar problems. When he handed over the "Huangdi Twelve Forms" to Zhang Xiu, Zhang Xiu said that his current achievements were only up to the third form in the seven forms, and after a battle with Lü Bu, he had a breakthrough, but only touched the threshold of the fourth form, and couldn't even enter the room.

  He is now able to fight Lü Bu to a draw, if he can practice to the fourth level of Great Achievement, what kind of state will it be? If he can practice to the seventh level, and reach the state of Great Perfection, how wonderful will it be?

  Isn't Zhang Xiu such an example? He has cultivated high-level martial arts, but in fact, he is not clear about his own destiny. It's just that his luck is good and he learned a gun technique that suits him, which makes him a master. In fact, he still has great potential to tap into.

  By extension, is Lü Bu also the case? Is Guan Yu also the case? They can become a generation of masters, only because their innate endowments exceed those of ordinary people, but they themselves are not aware of this point. If they can enlighten their own destiny and have a clear direction, their achievements may be even higher.

  Liu Bian expressed his doubts to Cai Yong, who nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty has raised one point and refuted three, what you said is indeed true. It's just like that, many people don't know their own destiny, they just drift with the tide, floating with the world. Those who can truly understand their own destiny are rare talents in this world. As the sage said, it's easy to recognize others, but hard to know oneself."

  "How... can one gain insight into their own destiny?"

  Cai Yong fell silent for a moment, and when he lifted his head again, his eyes gleamed: "Your Majesty knows why we should observe three years of mourning?"

  "Three years of filial piety...... Is it just for realizing one's own fate?"

  "I don't know if the ancients established this system with this consideration in mind, but as far as I know, there are quite a few people who have undergone a transformation during their mourning period."

  "For example, who?"

  "For example, Yuan Shao." Cai Yong pointed to his own nose: "And also me."

  Liu Bian looked at Cai Yong, for a moment not knowing what to say. He had heard that Cai Yong was a filial son, but he didn't know that Cai Yong had realized his own destiny during the mourning period. He casually asked: "What is your destiny?"

  "Cuckoo."

  Liu Bian almost vomited blood again. The cuckoo's cry is bloody, it's a bird with a bitter fate, no wonder Cai Yong's life was so bitter.

  "What is Yuan Shao's fate?"

  "I don't know." Cai Yong shook his head, "But I do know that when Yuan Shao was young, although he was from a noble family, he didn't stand out. After his mother passed away, he observed three years of mourning, and then after that, he again observed three years of mourning for his father, six years in total. When the mourning period ended, he reappeared in the world like the phoenix of Chu Zhuang Wang, flying high into the sky, shocking people with a single cry, becoming the leader of young people all over the world. In my opinion, it was during those first three years that he first realized his destiny, and only then did he observe the additional three years of mourning for his father to complete his cultivation, after which his demeanor became refined and his prestige was fully established."

  "So, the significance of filial piety actually lies not in reminiscing about one's parents, but in understanding one's own destiny?"

  "Otherwise, thinking of one's parents is the original intention of the sage's establishment of rituals." Cai Yong said: "Everyone is born to their parents, and parents are the predecessors of human beings. Guarding filial piety for parents and connecting with the spirits of parents in heaven may be the opportunity to understand one's own destiny."

  The three-year mourning period was an ancient ritual, and in Confucius' time it had already been criticized by people and could not be strictly enforced. By the Han Dynasty, it had been completely destroyed, except for a few people who either did so out of extreme filial piety or to gain fame, very few people were truly able to observe the three-year mourning period for their parents.

  If we follow Cai Yong's statement, then the three years of filial piety is not only a time to think of one's parents, but also an opportunity to understand one's own destiny. This can also explain why there are fewer and fewer extraordinary people in later generations. Without the habit of observing a three-year mourning period, one cannot gain insight into their own destiny, and therefore cannot bring out all their innate talents, and their original potential will remain dormant forever.

  "Does Mr. go to Shuo Fang have anything to do with his destiny?"

  "Three years of mourning is still acceptable for ordinary people, but it's impossible for the emperor. If he doesn't attend to state affairs for three years, the world will surely fall into chaos."

  Liu Bian nodded in agreement, and this was indeed true. To say three years might be too long, even three months would be unlikely to succeed.

  "I went to Shuo Fang to find another way of understanding one's fate, a method that has been lost."

  Liu Bian suddenly became excited: "Is there a way to understand one's fate without having to observe mourning for three years?"

  "That's right."

  "Has that gentleman been found?" Liu Bian asked, and immediately lost hope. Cai Yong had said it from the beginning, he did not complete the mission entrusted by the previous emperor, naturally he was not found.

  "I didn't find it. However, I gained some insight from the customs of the Xiongnu and Xianbei people, so I know what it might be."

  "What is it?"

  "It is music, ancient music, the lost 'Classic of Music'. Cai Yong let out a long sigh: "The ancient music has been lost, the ancient rites have been abandoned, and those who can understand their own destiny are becoming fewer and fewer. The sage should appear but does not, it is also like this."