The First Story: "The Black Robe Society"
Episode One
During the Tang Wu Zhou period, border conflicts were frequent, and wars continued for years. The treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty was depleted, and the morale of the border defense troops was unstable.
On this day, Empress Wu Zetian gathered her ministers to discuss the transportation of money and grain to the border. Suddenly, the Astronomical Bureau reported that flying birds had collided with pillars, pool fish had perished, and unusual celestial signs had appeared. According to the seismograph at the Astronomy Platform, a major earthquake would occur in the northwest and affect the divine capital of Luoyang. Wu Zetian immediately instructed swift horses to notify the relevant Dao and Zhou regions to prepare for earthquake resistance and disaster relief. She especially thought of the iron-armored army transporting a large amount of treasury silver to the border. Calculating by time, they would be passing through the northwest desert where the earthquake would occur, and it seemed that their situation would be perilous. She specifically instructed to dispatch a 600-li express rider to ensure they were notified to take precautions.