The Tale of a Thousand Years of Cultivation

Once upon a time during the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a great general named Zhongli Quan, who hailed from Xianyang in Jingzhao (present-day Xianyang, Shaanxi). His father, Zhongli Zhang, had also been a great general of the Eastern Han, and for his meritorious service in subduing the northern barbarians, he was bestowed the title of Marquis of Yantai. Zhongli Quan originally intended to follow in his father’s footsteps, bringing glory to his ancestors and achieving great accomplishments. However, misfortune befell him, leading him to a dead end.

He rose to the rank of Remonstrant Advisor, but was demoted to Jiangnan after submitting a memorial to the throne. Shortly after his demotion, the tribal invaders attacked. To erase the shame of his demotion and restore the prestige of the Zhongli family, he volunteered to lead the army into battle. Yet, just as the two armies clashed, a sudden thunderstorm broke out, plunging the sky into darkness and causing the troops to scatter.

Alone, he mistakenly entered a deep mountain, lamenting to himself: “As a commander of the three armies, I had intended to sweep away the enemies and establish a legacy of achievements and eternal fame. But unexpectedly, I suffered defeat on the battlefield, boosting the morale of the bandits and earning a reputation as a failure. The court will undoubtedly hold me accountable, and how could I face the elders of my hometown? Alas, Heaven is against me!”