Tai Shan
It had been a long and arduous journey for Emperor Li Po, but the fox knew he had a sacred and important pilgrimage to accomplish on this beautiful mountain known as Tai Shan. This was where Li Po's father had gone as had his father before him and so on and so on. Every member of the dynasty had climbed this sacred mountain to receive a message from the oracles, which would contain valuable advice to rule competently and judiciously over a diverse kingdom filled with many different species, all of whom would rely on the emperor for protection from warring enemy nations. To avoid this mountain was quite simply out of the question for the young vulpine Emperor- to not climb the mountain would be an extreme dishonor to his father's memory and the position of Emperor. And the fox was young enough to climb the seven thousand stairs, all carved by the monks who lived there to reach the cloud-enshrouded summit of this sacred mountain.
The village, composed primarily of pandas whose main job was to feed the burgeoning empire- any scholar of the Imperial school (and Li Po was very much a scholar) would have known that feeding the populace was as important as fighting its wars, or negotiating trade contracts with outlying villages. Li Po had always given money, spices, and whatever else was needed to this most important of farming villages. And to reciprocate the entire city had stopped if only for one day, the collection of that year's harvest to see their king off as he bravely climbed the mountain. This was Li Po's favorite time of the year, autumn- a time to study the colors of the leaves as they changed, a time for his fur coat to grow out to get ready for the fierce Chinese winter, a time for the advisers to count the grain and the farmers to grow it (none would ever fear hunger as long as Li Po was Emperor.) And the village had turned out in massive numbers to wish for the Emperor's success reminiscent of a festival, held earlier in the year. The sun, growing weaker as the winter approached, gave a beautiful golden tint to the surrounding countryside. The entire scene resembled one of the Court paintings Li Po had always taken pride in- this was truly a magical and transcendent, almost dreamlike setting, wrapped in gold, orange, and red, a mirror of the Emperor's clothing and fur.
But Li Po knew that the magic of this moment would pass away- the warmth of the villagers would be replaced by the unyielding cold, the chills of the mountain air, and once he reached the summit, the feeling of loneliness until the vision came. The first few steps at the start of this divine stairwell were incredibly easy but the resistance would increase as the fox grew tired. Seven thousand steps, seven thousand obstacles to the vision, seven thousand individuals standing in the way to good governance but Li Po would have to overcome them in order to fulfill his familial vow and learn his destiny. Looking up to the summit, the fox emperor could see the top of the mountains surrounded by layer upon layer of white clouds that would chill the surrounding air. There was a reason that the fox had a fur coat and warm luxurious robes to keep his core temperature high as the cold and frozen winds took control. He could also see the local monastery through the icy breeze, silent, noble, and old institutions filled with scholars and sages whose writings would guide the nation in their religious and philosophical studies. Even if the writings themselves were not literally written in gold, it made little difference to everyone in their society. Scholars would still swear the philosophies developed in these monasteries, the courtesans would rule by them, the Emperor would treat them as sacred scripture, and the peasants regardless of their literacy or lack thereof would still be enraptured by the lofty and high-minded words. And to think that the monks who were the authors of this wisdom literature would be the ones who would advise Li Po as the oracles just this once. This was the opportunity of a lifetime to sit at the hind paws of masters and listen to a message prepared just for the fox emperor and for no one else.
Now, the steps were growing more punishing, each single one pounding his feet the same way that the axe-man would pound away at a tree. Thousands of steps had already given away but Li Po was only halfway there, too exhausted to run, too high up to abandon his mission, too cold to even sit and rest before hypothermia would set in, so the forced march would simply have to continue. But something, a fire in the fox's golden eyes, made him continue to the summit. Something primitive and strong as the empire he ruled was giving him the strength to carry on. Finally, mercifully, the fox reached the top of the mountain exhausted yet triumphant but now came the most difficult part of this journey- waiting for and receiving a vision. The monks had given him food and water to carry on but to stay on the top of the mountain for as long as necessary would require strength, both physical and mental and also spiritual.
He was straining to concentrate on the sacred frequencies, waiting for the sacred vision when he heard a song, something beautiful and soothing, and even more welcoming than anything the Court orchestra could come up with. And it was coming from only one musician- but who? None of the monks were playing and when asked, they could hear no music. The vision, the fox realized, was actually a song- he asked to be alone at the summit of the mountain. And after the monks left, a flash of lightning came from the frigid sky and where it struck, emerged a beautiful vixen whose hair was as black as midnight. Her muzzle was pure white and her fur glowed with an unearthly radiance, she wore a robe which flashed in the seven colors of the rainbow, constantly shifting in colors. This vixen was far more beautiful than anyone Li Po had ever seen before in his life.
"Who are you?"
"I am the spirit of China and I have just sang to you for this bountiful harvest. That song is one that echoes throughout history. Raise your paws, young emperor." He did as he was told and felt her paws pass right through his body, as she was an immortal spirit being, maybe even a goddess.
"You are strong as your father was before you. You will live a hundred years." This revelation struck the fox with joy and happiness. Not only would he be as strong like his fathers before him but he would also be blessed with a long and prosperous life, as would his empire. The atmosphere was absolutely intoxicating, standing in the midst of divinity- if this was what the ascetics experienced on a daily basis, Li Po would forsake his position as emperor and become a monk by the rising of the sun.
She motioned gracefully and slowly with her arms and the clouds of the summit were parted, and now the fox could see the empire in all of its beauty, for one shining moment, covered in the golden light of autumn. Farms, cities, prairies, rivers, all formed a patchwork quilt of beautiful geometric patterns which reached unopposed to the Eastern Sea- all the empire was here for him to see. Li Po realized that the purpose of the journey was partially to assess and survey the entirety of the lands under his rule. And the more important reason for this pilgrimage was to convene was to look upon this glorious presence which spanned countless generations, maybe as ancient as the species themselves.
"For centuries have I served the great minds of China in their endless thirst for knowledge and for centuries have I advised the rulers of the Middle Kingdom between the heavens and earth to govern responsibly. You were right to come here as my wisdom will guide your empire to new heights in every field. No one will ever succeed against your kingdom and your army will be so strong that no one would dare challenge you. These are my blessings for you."
And then the history that Li Po had long ago given up as being a waste of time came forward. In the presence of his beloved country, the artificial concepts of time and distance were revealed and burnt up in a never-ending chorus for the song of eternity. All that mattered was the here and now, in the presence of this beautiful spirit who was filling the fox's head with wisdom on how to guide his nation. The wars and bloodshed of history, the negative aspects of entire villages razed by ignorant warlords also disappeared in redemption to be replaced by peaceful towns with plentiful food and thriving trade routes, who had never heard of war. The hardships and victories of history all came into focus in an ethereal light which made them seem more real than ever before. The fox heard the hopes and the hungers of his people as China sang to him.