The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 8

What materials are needed?

"We don't need many things," Xu Tian said, listing the materials required one by one.

"Chen Lushi, go and find a craftsman who is skilled in making lanterns and bring him here, along with the materials he mentioned," Huang Sima instructed.

The young man who had brought Xu Tian in earlier left in response.

Several officials walked a little further away, talking quietly to each other, and occasionally someone would glance at Xu Tian.

Before long, Chen, the registrar, brought in a middle-aged man. This man was probably a craftsman, as he carried some materials and tools with him.

Before the officials could even give a word, Xu Tian got to work. As he worked, he had the craftsmen around him help him out.

The craftsman was also very skilled. To be honest, he was even more efficient than Xu Tian. He could quickly understand what Xu Tian was saying. Later, when they stopped working, they simply assigned him to do the work, which actually made things faster.

Several officials watched from the side, seemingly curious about what the flying lantern created by the famous Zhuge Liang looked like.

In no time, less than ten or twenty minutes, a simple Kongming lantern shell and frame were completed.

Xu Tian threaded the pine wood, which had been soaked in lamp oil, onto the tip of the lamp. "That's basically how it's done."

"So it can fly like this?" asked the only one of the three who wasn't wearing official robes.

"It should be fine. Once the pine wood is lit, the lamp will fly up into the sky by itself."

After observing carefully for a while, Huang Sima said to the person who was not wearing official robes, "Counselor Huangfu, this lamp is extremely light. After the pine wood is lit, the heat from the burning rises, which may indeed move the lamp upwards."

By sheer luck, he gained a general understanding of the principles behind Kongming lanterns.

The man called Huangfu, the advisor, nodded. “It is indeed possible. This lamp seems very simple now, but no one had thought of it before. It must be a work left by Zhuge Liang.”

"Then let's take this lamp outside the hall and light it, so we can witness the ascension."

So everyone went to the courtyard outside the gate, and Chen Lushi even brought out an oil lamp from inside the house.

Xu Tian took the oil lamp from Chen Lushi and was about to go to the craftsman to light the Kongming lantern. At that moment, he heard a group of footsteps and then five or six people came out from a door in front.

Xu Tian turned his head and saw a person in front of him. He was slightly surprised. He recognized the person. It was General Li Su, whom he had seen from afar by the river. He was now the military governor of Shannan East Circuit and the prefect of Xiangzhou.

"Prefect Li."

"Li Jiedu".

Huang Sima, Huangfu Canshi, and another official all bowed and addressed him respectfully, indicating that Li Su enjoyed great prestige.

"Huang Sima, Huangfu Shi, I heard that you have found the person who will release the lanterns on New Year's Eve. I have come here to see you." Li Su said directly upon meeting him, showing that he was a straightforward and efficient person.

Huangfu, the advisor, pointed at Xu Tian and replied, "That's right. This person is named Xu Tian. He is said to be a Taoist priest from Wudang Mountain. He said that the flying lantern is called Kongming Lantern, and it is a method of making lanterns passed down by Zhuge Liang in the past."

When Xu Tian heard him say directly that he was a Taoist priest, he wanted to remind him, but it was not convenient to refute him at this time.

Upon hearing these words, Li Su turned his head and scrutinized Xu Tian for a moment with his eagle eyes.

Xu Tian was also looking at him. The two stared at each other for a moment. Under pressure, Xu Tian lowered his head to avoid the look. There was nothing he could do, since the other party was the boss, the boss of the entire Shannan East Road.

With the emperor far away and the mountains high, he was practically a local tyrant.

Li Su said, "Judging from this person's appearance and demeanor, he is indeed different from ordinary people. Perhaps he really is a Taoist. He is neither humble nor arrogant, so he must have some extraordinary abilities."

The flying lantern was invented by Zhuge Liang, which is no surprise. Only someone as knowledgeable in politics, military affairs, and all crafts could conceive of such a use for the lantern; he truly possessed great wisdom.

“Governor Li, we have just finished making a Kongming lantern and are about to test whether it can fly into the sky. Your arrival is just in time. Please join us in witnessing the wonders of this lantern,” said Huang Sima.

“Yes, then I have come at the perfect time,” Li Su said with a smile.

"Taoist Xu, hurry up and release the lanterns," Huang Sima urged, directly confirming Xu Tian's identity as a Taoist priest.

Xu Tian walked forward with the oil lamp, lit the pine wood on the Kongming lantern, and then arranged it properly.

The moment to witness a miracle was about to arrive, and everyone stared intently at the Kongming lantern, seemingly full of anticipation.

At this moment, Xu Tian was really worried, thinking about what would happen if the lamp didn't work and he couldn't fly up. Then he thought that he shouldn't have been lazy earlier and should have made the lamp himself, so that he would have been more confident.

Finally, the Kongming lantern did not disappoint Xu Tian or anyone else. Heeding the call of physics, the lantern cover swayed gently and then slowly rose up.

"Huh." Someone exclaimed softly, but thankfully they didn't shout it out loud, otherwise it might have angered everyone, because everyone else was staring intently at the flying lamp and had no mind to say a word.

Soon, the Kongming lantern flew above their heads. Just as everyone was expecting the lantern to fly even higher, a figure swung a sword and knocked the lantern to the ground.

The crowd was initially startled, then furious. But when they realized that the person who had knocked the lamp down was none other than Prefect Li Su, they immediately lost their temper. They were just puzzled and couldn't understand why he had done such a thing.

Li Su then turned his head, glanced at everyone, and said with a serious expression, "Just now, seeing this lantern fly up, I suddenly realized that this matter must not be revealed. From now on, this lantern will be a military secret. Everyone present today must remember this and not spread it."

“The governor is absolutely right. This was our oversight. We were only thinking about seeing this lantern ascend to heaven and neglected that this time and place were not a good time.” Huang Sima seemed to have understood.

The others echoed, "Yes." Xu Tian wondered what kind of military secret Kongming lanterns were. They might have some military uses, but not many. There were many limitations: they were hard to see in strong daylight, strong winds, and fog.

Li Su glanced at everyone again, then fixed his gaze on Xu Tian and stopped looking.

Xu Tian's heart clenched again. The critical moment had arrived, but he dared not speak or make any move.

"It is said that Zhuge Liang was proficient in the Eight Trigrams Formation. Did you, Taoist Xu, also learn it?" Li Su suddenly asked.

Xu Tian quickly realized what was going on and honestly replied, "Your Excellency, I have never studied the Eight Trigrams Formation. I have never heard my teachers mention or teach it, nor have I ever seen anyone in the mountains who knows this method."

Upon hearing this, Li Su did not show any disappointment, and then asked, "Are you proficient in traditional Chinese medicine or alchemy?"

"I haven't studied traditional Chinese medicine, but I know a little about alchemy. However, my Wudang alchemy is different from others. It can't cure diseases, strengthen the body, or prolong life. Instead, it leans towards the legendary alchemy of turning stone into gold and specializes in studying the changes of all things in the world," Xu Tian replied.