Chapter 813: Chapter 33: Zhao Xing’s Great Circulation Theory, 34th Year of the Jingxin Calendar, The Death of Yang An! (Da Zhang)
"No need, sir." Lin Yuejia cupped her hands and said, "I have read the ’Tianyuan Record,’ and except for Si Earth and Geng Metal, the other eight Stems in your Five Fortunes Grand Circulation are completely different."
"Your foundation is solid." Zhao Xing nodded.
Lin Yuejia slightly puffed out her chest.
"Sir, you only mentioned that each year starts from Wood Fortune. On which day is the ’determine season’ set?" Someone who hadn’t figured it out couldn’t help but ask.
Zhao Xing’s Heavenly Vision had long seen the thoughts of these eight people clearly. Seeing that the questioner was a humble learner, and noticing that he dressed plainly, presumably from a poor family.
He patiently said, "Starting from each year’s Great Cold Day."
At this point, the eight had no more questions, at least for now, because Zhao Xing’s framework still contained the content from the Five Elements and Four Seasons theory. As long as the exact time division is determined, it’s easy to comprehend.
"Now, my foundational theory, you all already understand, so I will consolidate and explain it." Zhao Xing said.
"Using the twelve branches to pair with the Three Yin and Three Yang Six Qi, yin and yang can both be divided into three by their amount, which is why it’s called Three Yin and Three Yang."
"The Six Qi each exhibit characteristics of the Five Elements, but heat and fire are similar, so it is not listed separately here; instead, fire is divided into Jun Fire and Minister Fire."
"The combinations of Three Yin and Three Yang with Six Qi are: Jueyin Wind Wood, Shaoyin Jun Fire, Shaoyang Minister Fire, Taiyin Damp Earth, Yangming Drying Gold, and Taiyang Cold Water."
At this step, of the eight, only two, Lin Yuejia and Liu Hui, could still understand.
Because the two of them could quickly find validation for Zhao Xing’s theory from classics like "Five Elements Monthly Usage" and "Heavenly Stems Four Seasons Theory."
By this time, Lin Yuejia had realized that Doctor Zhao indeed had something substantial.
This theory of his suddenly integrated multiple classics, which is truly the essence of classical studies, isn’t it?
However, Liu Hui was still unconvinced because he could understand it.
But some people didn’t understand it at all.
A handsome young man with fair skin asked, "Doctor Zhao, what’s the use of this theory for us?"
His name was Wu Chun, and he was only there for the attendance hours. He was entirely clueless about theories, only getting in because his father was a Marquis and used a back door.
As soon as Wu Chun finished speaking, Lin Yuejia cast a look at him like he was a fool: "How could it be useless? When you perform the counter-order of the twenty-four solar terms, rectify and return to the rightful position, if you don’t understand these theories, how do you know how much force to use in the spell? How to adjust the hours? And how to calculate which solar terms should be restored when returning everything to its proper seasonal position?"
Wu Chun’s face immediately turned red with embarrassment.
He felt a crushing sense of inadequacy in knowledge, especially since the opposing party was a rather pretty young girl.
Zhao Xing took over the conversation: "Indeed, this theory is meant to guide the use of the Twenty-four Solar Terms Order and the casting of spells."
"The natural Heavenly Time, the sequence of rectification, cannot be arbitrarily altered."
"Otherwise, even if it seems unchanged momentarily, over the years, it will accumulate into a great disaster."
"Why is it that despite having many strong Minister of Agriculture officials, there are still natural disasters occurring? This is due to the tiny differences accumulated each year."
"In my hometown, Gucheng, a nearby county had a Minister of Agriculture who changed the Four Seasons over three hundred times in just fifteen years."
"In the summer and autumn seasons alone, he further modified the solar terms over a thousand times."
"Yet, he still could not adjust the Heavenly Time of the Grand Circulation correctly, leading to rampant floods and pervasive ice and snow, which eventually led to a great catastrophe."
Lin Yuejia curiously asked, "Doctor Zhao, how was such an incompetent official dealt with in the end?"
Zhao Xing recalled Chen Shijie’s way of handling it: "He was thrown by a friend of mine into a cold river for seven days and ultimately stripped of his position for dereliction of duty, imprisoned for fifteen years."
Lin Yuejia then turned again to Wu Chun: "Did you hear that? This is what happens when you only learn the Heavenly Time Techniques without understanding the principles of Heavenly Time."
Wu Chun harbored deep resentment, wishing he could sew this girl’s mouth shut.
Zhao Xing noticed this subtle reaction and couldn’t help but smile:
"Alright, let’s continue."
"Since you already understand what this theory is for and why it is necessary to divide the Grand Circulation."
"Let’s continue with the next step."
"Before proceeding, I must clarify one more concept, which is that the Six Qi are further divided into two categories."
"One is Primary Qi, and the other is Guest Qi."
"Primary Qi is used for narration of the usual, Guest Qi for measuring changes."
"These changes refer to the alteration of climate and phenology."
"If you are a County Magistrate, then knowing the Primary Qi of the Grand Circulation is sufficient, but if you wish to govern a prefecture or department, you must possess the ability to handle drastic transformations."
Regarding transformations, even Lin Yuejia and Liu Hui felt some confusion.
The Marquis Transformation Method is advanced magic, and the theories concerning transformations are naturally ’high-level theories.’
The highest rank among those present was only the seventh-rank, belonging to Lin Yuejia and Liu Hui.
They are far from ready to study the principles of the Transformation Method.
But Zhao Xing ignored this.
Because his purpose wasn’t to help these two students to understand.
His purpose was to ensure that those higher-level practitioners comprehend it.
Liu Hui and the others would inevitably record today’s ’Three Yin and Three Yang Great Circulation Theory’ and inform their respective mentors.
Secondly, it was for the sake of his own cultivation.
"The Six Main Qi: termed as morning air (dawn), midday air (high sun), sunset air (drifting spring), midnight air (dew mist), Heavenly Qi, Earth Qi."
"I divide the twenty-four solar terms into six steps within the Six Qi, promoting them in the sequence that aligns with the interaction of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, starting from the Great Cold Day each year."
"Each step consists of sixty days plus eighty-seven and a half ke. When one type of Qi dominates, it will display related characteristics of the Five Elements."