After a week later Yuan Yao readied himself for the binding ceremony. He wore the official attire of the Qianhuhou. He walked out of the mansion and leapt on a horse, which had a gold colored coat and jet black mane.
He departed the mansion with Wen Deng and twenty soldiers accompanying him on horses. The procession proceeded towards the shrine.
He rode his stead along the road towards the confluence of Qinlong and Fenhe river, where the shrine was located. Along the road he saw people hurrying to make a way for him—his new subjects.
What he saw among the peasantry didn't leave him with any good feeling. Among the people who stood beside the road and frantically bowed their heads in deep respect he saw many short, thin people, their gaunt frames bore the silent testimony of prolonged hardship—a life, as it were, scraped down to the very bone.
On occasion an odd child or two clothed in rags would peek from behind their parents, their curious eyes like an oasis in the desert among a sea of fearful peasants. They too didn't fare much better than the adults, but it was evident that their parents gave whatever food at hand to their children first before eating themselves.
While many people looked destitute and malnourished, there were also others who brought incense, and other offerings to the shrine. They were most probably the tenant farmers, and villagers from the fief.
He rode onto a muddy road, the road which led to the shrine. He reached the confluence of the two rivers—union of the two water dragons figuratively.
He unmounted from his horse before the wooden arch of the shrine. As he walked forward he saw river loongs carved in stone on either side of the path. The body of these loongs had lost its original luster and had been turned into growing fields of green moss.
Beyond these loong statues there stood the old thick Iron oak trees with the pearly white veils of the mist.
He came to the front of the shrine where a giant bronze bell was hanging. Inside the shrine, for every step a small bronze bell was hung from the ceiling, which was the exact replica of the bronze bell.
An old hunched back elderly man who wore dark red rags sat beside the main altar in the shrine. He slowly opened his eyes and stood up to welcome Yuan Yao.
"This old keeper, Shen Ku, welcomes the Lord of Changpu." Said the old man as he bowed. "The shrine is ready for the ritual."
Yuan Yao greeted him back by slightly bowing back while clasping hand. "I would like the elder to guide me through the ceremony."
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Yuan Yao settled at the shrine. For the next three days he would be sitting before the main altar in the daytime. This would be an excellent time for him to chat with his new subjects and in turn, for his subjects to chat with him.
Shen Ku sat beside him, "My Lord, I believe you know all the rituals that need to be followed for the next three days." started to explain. "But it is my job to tell you about it anyway; so, please have mercy on this old man for the inconvenience caused by it."
"Please, Elder Shen Ku, The rituals are carried out with the guidance of you. If you conclude anything is to be done, then I will carefully follow your will."
The shrine keeper then explained. "Cleanse yourself with the waters of the river in front of the shrine each day first thing in the morning. Then you'll meditate here and meet whomever that comes to meet you. On the first day you'll cut a branch from the spirit camphor to make the incense that will burn throughout the binding ceremony."
He then continued, "Each evening a deer is sacrificed to the deity of the temple in front of the loong statues you've seen when coming here; after the sacrifice you'll toll the bronze bell…" the keeper trailed off. "Considering your age and abilities you may get the help from your retainers in this task. On the second you'll dig a couple of handfuls of the earth below the loong statues, and on the third day you'll go to the river to bring a pot of water from the deepest point in the river."
Yuan Yao patiently listened to the words of the shrine keeper. After the shrine keeper finished his narration of the rituals that needed to be performed, he again clasped his hand and spoke to the shrine keeper.
"This poor young one will do my utmost to follow all the steps correctly."
The old shrine keeper stared at the young boy a little longer than before with his murky white eyes. Perhaps, maybe, just maybe finally he might be starting to think that the new lord might not be the worst kind as scions of high officials tend to be.
Yuan Yao bathed in the river and then came to the spirit grove along with the shrine keeper. The shrine keeper spoke while pointing to a tree. "This is the spirit camphor tree. The incense made from its branches is lit on special occasions. Since the welcoming of the new lord is one such occasion you can cut a branch that is as thick as a warrior's forearm."
Yuan Yao nodded. He placed two wine jars—one made from rice, another from fish— before the base of the tree.He then chose a branch from the spirit camphor tree and returned to the shrine.
On the way the shrine keeper explained to Yuan Yao how the spirit camphor branch is going to be used. Its core would become stick incense. Its bark would become powdered incense. Its leaves would be dried and used to blend special wine that is offered to the shrine's deity.
As soon as they returned to the shrine Yuan Yao noticed there were quite a few new people. The shrine keeper, Shen Ku, introduced another old man "This is Shao Xiang, my lord. This is the one who'll make incense out of your wood. You may give it to him."
Yuan Yao handed the spirit camphor's branch he was holding. He then surveyed the other people who gathered here. "They are from the prominent families of Chengpu." Ren Liqin whispered from the side.
Yuan Yao gathered his bearings, "I think introductions are in order." He tried to be as nonchalant as he could.
"This commoner greets the lord of Chengpu." A man with dark tanned skin spoke up. "This one's name is He Shun. This one is a patriarch of the He family with the given name Shun. Our family earns their keep by fishing in the rivers."
Yuan Yao nodded in acknowledgement, "I've heard of you." then He Shun continued. "We the He family brought last day's catch to lord's kitchen as gifts and we will donate our next two day's catch to lord's kitchen."
"A most admirable deed," Yuan Yao praised, "I'll make sure the He family's name, along with the patriarch, is carved into a commemorative grey croat stone slab at the county office."
He Shun bowed once again and gave way to another old man, who in this case was a lot fairer than him. This new man greeted Yuan Yao next.
"My lord, this humble servant bows to you." He said as he bowed to his waist. "This humble servant is called Rui from the Du family. Du are humble farmers and wouldn't be able to match the foremost family of Chengpu." Then he presented silk with a flowing flowery pattern. "This is the best silk in thousand li made by the Wan family. This humble servant was able to procure merely 10 bolts of it. We would like to give it to you, please accept, my lord."
What is this old coot planning? Yuan Yao thought. The finest silk were gifted to an official who received the position directly through the emperor and also usually is emperor's clansmen.
He thought for a second and then answered, "I'm most honoured to see the lengths you've gone to acquire the silk. But it would be merely a cloth on me. Therefore I would like to donate it to the Azure Dragon Crossing Shrine, I presume you don't have any objections, right?"
Du Rui once again bowed, "My lord may do with it as you wish; this lowly servant will not object."
Yuan Yao turned to Shen Ku. "Elder Ku, you may use this silk as you wish, even sell it to the Du clan since he has already agreed."
The shrine keeper let out a weak chuckle, "As you wish, lord."
"My lord, the Du family will also donate 10,000 jin of wheat, and rice each." Du Rui hurriedly said not wanting to offend Yuan Yao further.
Yuan Yao lightly smiled and spoke in a gentle voice. "I thank you for your contribution. Your name will too be carved in the stone." Yuan Yao looked towards the gathered crowd, with his voice raised, "Not just the names of the He, and Du; you too can have your name inscribed if you make a big enough contribution in these three days."
For the next few hours there were many more people who came to see the new lord but rarely ever approached Yuan Yao. Soon after an imperceptibly small tremor could be felt through the shrine grounds as if an army was marching towards them; most of the attendees could not feel it, but for Wen Deng, and few others who had cultivated martially.
"My lord, about a 100 man strong force with, perhaps, hostile intent is approaching us." Wen Deng came beside Yuan Yao and quietly relayed his message.
"Can you hold them off?"
"If the leader isn't above the Vajra Bone Realm, I can destroy the whole company by myself."
Yuan Yao waved his hand. "Then there is no need to stop them, make sure they can't attack the people gathered here."
But Wen Deng did not leave, "My lord, I need to protect you!" but outright refused. Yuan Yao who observed hesitating Wen Deng spoke, "Then at least send the guards; you can stay here to protect me."
Wen Deng hesitatingly nodded his head and passed his orders to his guards as he remained to defend Yuan Yao. Soon after, a group of people approached the shrine.
Foremost of this group a grizzled looking man led them. He wore rags covered with mud as if they had never been washed, he was a moderate 6 chi tall, stocky build, and thick hairs covered all over his body. Similarly, the followers of this man, too, were clad in dirtied rags that barely went below their thighs, and were torn all over.
Yuan Yao looked towards this army of ragged men and then looked at Wen Deng as if awaiting confirmation, to which Wen Deng nodded. Yuan Yao stood up and directly looked into the eyes of the leading rag man.
The Rag man stared him back sharply, "Are you the new Lord?" asked coldly with his voice thundering. Yuan Yao stood his ground and tried hard not to flinch. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and then spoke firmly. "I am the Lord of Chengpu, state your name."
The rag-worn man didn't answer but kept staring at him with his cold eyes. Wen Deng suddenly burst with all of his might. The resulting radiance made everyone present look at him with awe, except for the rag-worn man.
The rag-worn man now sported a light smile, and was inclined to speak. "I, Guo Jin, fought against the heavens chosen for his cruel tyranny; for to end the misery of the common people. I, and my brothers fought those endless hoards sent forth by the so-called 'Son of Heaven'." He took a breather and observed the changes in Yuan Yao's face.
A Yellow turban rebel! Yuan Yao thought, or a Yellow scarf rebel? He questioned within his mind, struggling to come to a conclusion.
But none of those thoughts mattered, as long as the man was willing Yuan Yao would hear him out. No one—not even the emperor—would make trouble for him within his family's backyard, at least not for the crime of hearing a former yellow turban.
"What you were is none of my concern. If the emperor wants to kill you, he'll send his edicts; and in turn, I'll execute his orders." Yuan Yao sternly spoke. "For now, I only care about the crimes committed within my territory. I shall punish them with all my might. At the same time, if someone wants to help me in their own ways and doesn't commit any crime they'll be rewarded justly. So, choose."
The rag-worn man stood unwaveringly for a minute. "I'll trust the lord this once." He knelt down, "My lord, Our requests are simple, we want a roof over our head and rice in our belly. As long as the lord holds his end, We, the Reed Marsh Brotherhood, will swear our loyalty to the lord."
Yuan Yao nodded satisfyingly, "Then I shall accept you as my subjects." Then he turned to Wen Deng. "Wen Deng, you see to it that these gentlemen are put to good use."
Wen Deng received his order with a solemn face and spoke to Guo Jin and his men. "You have heard the lord, follow me."