274 、 Times and Heroes
The former high priest of the Temple of Isis cleared his throat and said: "My lords, the gods can naturally make oracles in the souls of all believers, do you think that the gods can't do it? But if that's the case, what's the use of shrines and priests?
The priests represent the people to offer sacrifices to the gods, guide the people to pray to the gods, and also convey oracles to the people on behalf of the gods, so that the people accept the guidance of the gods. This is an honor and a duty, but also the fundamental meaning of existence. If this meaning is violated, the foundation of the shrines will be shaken, and the priests will lose their seemingly sacred halo.
Amun's vow was that he did not want to become a god like Enril or Seth that he saw on earth. If the world keeps the shrines, then keep them, symbolizing the glory that people are looking for. The priests are also just priests in the shrines, and whether the shrines they control lose this symbolic meaning is also up to the priest's choice.
Everyone who accepts the guidance of the gods with firm faith will feel the divine brilliance in their hearts, and it does not matter whether they have the identity of a priest or not. The god I am talking about is my one and only god – Amon! "
Iibin's forehead was slightly sweating, and a general at the table slammed the table and shouted: "Chief Priest, are you still not going to announce the oracle?"
Iibin turned to look at Rod-dick and said: "My lord, this should be up to you to decide."
Everyone also looked at the lord of the city. Under the gaze of so many people, Rod-dick stood up and said in a clear voice: "The evil god Seth murdered Osiris and stole the position of Eygut but failed. A thousand years later, he took advantage of the Uruk legion's pressure to force Horus to retreat and deceive the people of Eygut to offer sacrifices. Now he has been beheaded by Amun. Back then, the Supreme General Amon of the Empire walked the earth and achieved the achievements of the gods, and was already the king of the Ennead. From today onwards, my glory and title belong to Amon, and Ra is the name of Amon. "
After reading these words, he looked around at the crowd and said, "This is the content of Ra's oracle, and I do not want to explain anything more. I am sure that after you have heard it, you will understand why Pharaoh did not allow it to be made public." Then he bowed to Medanzo and said, "May I ask what is the second question of Amun?"
No one spoke for a long time. They were all reflecting on the meaning of the oracle. Even the generals who were almost drunk seemed to have sobered up. Medanzo said unhurriedly, "Lord Rod-dick, the Commander of the An-Ra Legion, the Governor of Cape City, you are the pride of the Cape States. You inherited the position of the governor from your father at a young age, and you are praised and respected by the people. In the eyes of the world, your life is a perfect dream.
Amun just wants to ask you – do you sigh in the middle of the night when you think about it? Do you feel emotional and regretful when you face your heart? Do you feel that your life is not in vain when you are full of ambition and passion? But do you also think that you can only sigh in silence, and that you will sigh until the end of your life? Is that right? "
Rod-dick was stunned. His birth, status, and achievements could be described as the perfect dream in the minds of many people. What regrets could there be in life? But the question that Amon asked Medanzo to ask in front of everyone hit Rod-dick's secret.
The pride of Cape may have the same regrets about life as the common people. He would also sigh in the long night, yearning to be a legendary hero and aspire to live a heroic life. The difference was that most people in this world only dreamed about it and did not have the conditions to realize it; but it was not impossible for Rod-dick to do it.
But Rod-dick had all kinds of concerns, and these concerns were not unreasonable. He was a very competent City Lord, and people thought so too. However, in his own mind, was everything really so?
The banquet was no longer noisy, and everyone was silent, thinking about their own thoughts. Rod-dick suddenly turned to the attendants and said: "Bring me my sword!"
What was the governor going to do with his sword at the banquet? Everyone was very puzzled. They stared at him, waiting to see what he was going to do. The attendants brought Rod-dick's sword. The scabbard was wrapped in gold ornaments, and the hilt was inlaid with a blue aquaticore. Rod-dick drew the sword and swung it forward. The silver sword was inserted into the table in front of him, all the way to the hilt.
Even the generals of the An-Ra Legion had to praise: "Good swordsmanship, good strength!" The silver light on the sword flashed, and the amazing power it contained was beyond the limits of ordinary people. It was difficult to see that the usually gentle and elegant governor Rod-dick was only one step away from becoming a supreme warrior.
Rod-dick inserted the sword into the table, and his whole body exuded a kind of unprecedented heroic spirit. He looked around at the crowd and said: "Pass my order, tomorrow the temple bell will be rung, and I will read the oracle in public in the square!"
Yibin hurriedly said: "Governor, you don't have to take this responsibility. I am the chief priest, and tomorrow I will announce the oracle to the people as the chief priest of the Cape States. "
Rod-dick, who was full of heroic spirit just now, suddenly smiled bitterly and said: "I am the governor and the head of the legion. Everyone knows my position in the Cape States. Since I have decided to do this, why bother to hide it? Thank you, Amun, for asking. This is what I want and what I will do today! "
George stood up with a cup in his hand and said loudly: "Let's toast to the governor!" The generals also stood up and toasted. Even if the other officials had doubts, they could only pick up their cups at this time.
Just now, many officials asked Rod-dick about the content of the oracle, but they just wanted to find out what was going on in private. They did not necessarily want to force him to disobey Pharaoh's order. But Rod-dick made this decision on his own, which was beyond the expectations of many people. This was really not like the governor on normal days, especially when he drew his sword and slashed. People couldn't help but feel shocked and amazed.
Medanzo quietly said to George in his soul: "Amun is really amazing. How did he know that by sending the two of us, Rod-dick, who has always been watertight, would make such an amazing decision?"
George smiled and quietly replied: "I have also been in the officialdom for many years. I know the mind of people like Rod-dick. If his heart does not want anything, his will is not strong, with such a noble background and no high achievements, why would he persist in practicing martial arts for so many years? In his heart, there must be a yearning that he is not willing to give up. That is both his wish and his regret.
It is a pity that his background is too good, his situation is too superior, and he is too smart and capable. In the face of all kinds of things, there are always too many choices to avoid conflict, there are always too many leeway for him to take advantage of both sides. He will make all kinds of preparations for what he really wants to do, but he may not do it, because he has ways to avoid trouble. Over time, it will become a habit. But in his own heart, there is another Rod-dick, the Rod-dick that he really wants to be! "
Medanzo said with emotion: "Isn't the vast majority of people in this world like this? People often have another version of themselves in their hearts — the person they dream to be. This dream is often unrealistic, and the circumstances of reality will eventually make people's vows vanish into thin air.
And Rod-dick is lucky, at least he has such an opportunity. You said that he will make all kinds of preparations for what he wants to do, so the decision to generously draw his sword just now is actually one of the preparations he has made long ago? "
George nodded secretly and said: "Yes, such a scene may have been imagined countless times in his quiet night reverie, and today he finally did it."
At this moment, the voice of the supreme mage Ibin drowned out all the noise of the banquet: "My lord, if you do this, Pharaoh will definitely punish you. How will you face it?"
Rod-dick gently pulled his sword out of the hard wooden table, returned it to its sheath and handed it to the attendant, and replied with a sneer: "Punish me? How? Has Pharaoh's order been made public? Does His Majesty dare to announce to the people that he has given such an order? Just like when Supreme General Amon killed Prince Snek and left Eygut, Pharaoh could only send Lord George and Lord Gabriel to secretly pursue him, but did not publicly convict the Supreme General! "
Ibin reminded again: "Having said that, if Pharaoh wants to punish you, he has other ways, my lord, to be prepared."
Rod-dick smiled again: "I have already made the so-called preparations. Recently, I have been in private communication with the main officials of the various cities and states. Everyone is dissatisfied with Pharaoh's two successive orders, and does not dare to destroy the oracle like this. They are all watching, waiting for someone to take the lead in resisting the order. In particular, Governor Tu Yang of Montefiore and the Huanzhang Legion of Isis have the same idea as me. The day before yesterday, they sent letters to persuade me that if they disobey the order and issue the oracle, they hope to get my support and response. "
Medanzo glanced at George, revealing a look of admiration. The former high priest of the Temple of Isis had guessed correctly, Rod-dick had indeed been preparing for this for a long time, just like many other things he had planned in his life. It was just that at this moment, he had finally made up his mind to act.
The chief priest Ibin nodded: "So the lord of the city has been preparing for this for a long time, I have been overthinking. But I have to remind you, if His Majesty Pharaoh wants to punish you, according to official practice, he will find an excuse to order you to the capital. As long as you leave the Cape States and go to the palace, he has his own means to get rid of you. And if Pharaoh summons you, you have to go. "
At this time, George spoke again: "The other task that Amun sent me and Medanzo is to protect the safety of Lord Dick."
… …
At noon the next day, when the sun rose to its highest point, Rod-dick ordered people to ring the bell of the shrine, which was a signal to summon the people to the square to listen to the oracle. The lord of the city was dressed in military attire, and surrounded by priests and guards, he stood on the long steps of the shrine and read the oracle of Ra aloud.
The people in the square were stunned at first, and they did not react for a long time. Everyone was there pondering the meaning of the oracle. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Almighty Amon!" Then, the shouts became louder and louder.
Rod-dick walked into the shrine amidst the calls and worship of Amun by the people of the city. He whispered to George: "The statue of Seth has collapsed, so naturally there is no need to rebuild it. But according to the meaning of the oracle, 'Ra is the name of Amon', is it necessary to replace the main statue in the shrine with the statue of Amon? "
George's smile was somewhat unfathomable as he pointed to the statue of Ra in the center of the hall and asked: "Of course it is not necessary, my lord. You have been offering sacrifices to this statue for so many years, have you not noticed the appearance of the god?"
Rod-dick looked up at the majestic statue. It was so tall that it was difficult for ordinary people to see the face of the god standing in the shrine. If it was outside the gate of the shrine, they could only see a majestic outline. What's more, when people offered sacrifices to the gods, they worshiped and saluted, and it was impossible to look at the statue like they were looking at their son-in-law. It was the first time that Rod-dick had looked at the facial features of the statue of Ra so intently, and he could not help but open his mouth wide in surprise.
The craftsmen carved a handsome and mighty man, and the outline of his facial features carried an invisible air of fortitude. The more he looked at it, the more he looked like Amon! Rod-dick asked himself in his heart – why didn't I notice it before?
How could the craftsmen on earth know what the gods looked like? This was a very interesting question. As far as the gods Amon had seen were concerned, their faces were similar to the statues in the shrine, indicating that the craftsmen did not carve them at random. This situation was understandable. Some gods had appeared in the human world, and people could build them according to the descriptions passed down by word of mouth and referring to the historical relics that had existed.
On the other hand, the gods also had emissaries on earth, and their first shrines were often built by the people under the guidance of these emissaries. Some craftsmen had even seen the gods with their own eyes, so they could sculpt statues that were similar to the gods.
It might be difficult for people who lacked spiritual spirituality to understand this feeling. When the craftsmen who believed in the gods carved the statues, they were not just completing a work or a piece of work, but pouring their soul into it. The image of the gods contained their belief in the gods and their understanding of divinity. This was the most essential difference between the real works of art handed down from ancient times and the pure handicrafts of the world.
When the craftsmen sculpted the statues, their souls would also be guided, intentionally or unintentionally. This guidance may come from the gods themselves or the emissaries left by the gods on earth, or it may be the understanding or imagination of the craftsmen in their souls.
Ra was the oldest god of the Ennead, and had almost become a forgotten god before Pharaoh of Merneptah carried out the monotheistic reform. And long before Osiris established the Empire of Eygut, Ra had never left the divine realm to come to earth, and the emissaries he guided back then had either become gods or were long gone.
That is to say, in Eygut today, no one knew what Ra looked like, and the craftsmen could only sculpt statues based on their imagination, but they could not sculpt him into the appearance of other gods. But how could this statue carry the shadow of Amon? Maybe it was just an illusion or a coincidence, or maybe there was a mystery that was difficult for the world to understand.
It was normal that Rod-dick had not noticed it before, because he had never thought about it at all. Just like when Amon left the mountains and saw Yoon Nam-na for the first time, he had never thought that the girl was Mourin, even though he had been used to seeing the statue of Mourin in Duc since he was a child.
George also looked at the statue of Ra and muttered to himself: "Who created the gods, and why are they gods?"
Medanzo looked at Rod-dick and whispered: "Congratulations, my lord, you have finally broken through to the supreme level!"
Why did Medanzo say that? At this moment, Rod-dick, who was looking up at the gods, stood there, as if the power in his bloodline had been integrated into his soul. This was the aura that only a supreme warrior could have.
It had been thirty years since Rod-dick became a sixth-level warrior, and after so many years, he had been unable to break through to the supreme level. There were too many people in the world who were blocked out of this threshold for life. He was not a mage, and at the age of fifty-six, although his physique was still strong, his chances of becoming a supreme warrior were slim. But he did it! This could be considered a small miracle, and it happened overnight.
… …
According to the tradition of the cities of Eygut, when a warrior was promoted to a seventh-level supreme warrior, the governor of the city had to summon the officials to hold a ceremony to congratulate him. Amon had also received such congratulations in Montefiore. Although Rod-dick had issued an oracle in violation of Pharaoh's secret order, he still did things in accordance with the rules. He himself was the governor of the city, so he entrusted the chief priest Ibbin to summon the officials to hold a ceremony to celebrate his promotion to a supreme warrior.
At the same time, Rod-dick sent an urgent message to the officials of the cities who had dealings with him. In fact, there was no need for him to do so. The news spread immediately, and all kinds of people sent letters everywhere for various purposes. Merneptah and Pharaoh also learned of the matter a few days later.
Merneptah flew into a rage and immediately wanted to punish Rod-dick, but he calmed down under the persuasion of his confidants. He could not punish Rod-dick like this, and he had to consider the consequences of the incident. So Pharaoh sent messengers to the Cape States and ordered Rod-dick to rush to the king's capital to report on his work and meet the king. The first thing to do was to get this man under control. This was also to establish power and let everyone see Rod-dick's fate.
Although the Cape States had already announced the oracle, if the other cities could carry out Pharaoh's secret order, then Pharaoh could make an announcement that Rod-dick had forged the oracle and issued it without authorization. This was a capital crime! Such an outcome was in the best interest of Merneptah.
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