The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 126 The Taoist's Achievements

Inside Ganlu Palace, Yan Liben bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, Xu Xiaode is the Minister of the Ministry of Works. Your Highness the Crown Prince is in charge of the expenses of the court. Now Xu Xiaode is in charge of the entire budget of the Ministry of Works. I really..."

Seeing that Master Yan was in great pain, Li Shimin also lowered his head.

Both the king and his minister seemed to have difficulties.

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Who recommended Xu Xiaode to be the Minister of Works?"

Yan Liben replied, "It was recommended by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, arranged by Duke Zhao, and approved by His Majesty. Therefore, I dare not be dissatisfied with Minister Xu's budget for the Ministry of Works, only because he is an official of the Eastern Palace."

Li Shimin held his forehead with a painful expression and asked, "When did I give the approval?"

Yan Liben stood there, somewhat unable to believe it. Could it be that His Majesty had forgotten?
After coming to his senses, Li Shimin took a sip of tea. It seemed bad to embarrass Yan Liben, so he said with a straight face, "You can go back."

Yan Liben said quickly: "I have failed to do my job well, Your Majesty, please punish me."

"I don't blame you. If you have time, go ask Xu Xiaode when the Lingyan Pavilion can be built."

"Yes." Yan Liben glanced at His Majesty quietly, and then quickly walked out of Ganlu Hall. As for the seat given by His Majesty, he did not dare to sit on it for a moment.

Li Chengqian passed by the Taiji Hall and just walked out of the Suzaku Gate, he saw an acquaintance.

This acquaintance was Taoist Master Li Chunfeng.

"Master, what is this?"

Li Chunfeng handed over a book and said respectfully, "This is one of the volumes of the Dharma Records compiled by me."

Li Chengqian took the book, put it in his sleeve and asked with a smile: "What book is this?"

Li Chunfeng explained: "I often look at the armillary spheres of previous dynasties, and I found that they have many shortcomings. Last year, I ordered people to recast the armillary sphere at the order of Your Majesty. The "Fa Xiang Zhi" is a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the armillary spheres of previous dynasties."

After that, he said, "Your Highness, please come this way."

Li Chengqian followed Li Chunfeng's footsteps while reading the book. Among the hundreds of ancient philosophers, only a few of them looked up at the starry sky and specialized in astronomy.

As he walked, he looked at the book in his hand. The person who created the armillary sphere was the legendary Eastern Han Dynasty scientist Zhang Heng.

The armillary sphere was continuously improved throughout the dynasties, and it was almost lost several times.

Li Chengqian continued to follow Li Chunfeng as he read the "Records of Fa Xiang". The armillary sphere is an astronomical tool used by the ancients for measurement, and those who master this tool are often contemporary masters of mathematics.

Li Chunfeng was one of them, and his mathematical skills were very impressive.

Different from the learning method of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian also didn't know what level of numerology the Taoist priest Li Chunfeng had reached.

Li Chengqian liked this volume of "Fa Xiang Zhi" very much. It contains very interesting discussions on the relationship between geography and astronomy, as well as related discussions on the vertical angles between stars and the horizon. There are already discussions on the longitude and latitude of the ecliptic, equatorial longitude and latitude, and horizontal longitude and latitude.

This is a very valuable book. At least in the current Tang Dynasty, such knowledge is indispensable for the dissemination and development of knowledge.

When you arrive at the Imperial Observatory, you will see a huge Bagua diagram painted on the ground. In the center of the diagram stands a stone pillar. Surrounding the stone pillar stand windmills. The windmills will turn whichever direction the wind blows from.

At the gate of the Imperial Observatory, there is an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard, standing directly north of the Bagua diagram with a whisk in his hand.

Seeing Taoist Master Yuan sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, and then taking a few steps, Li Chengqian whispered, "Taoist Master Li, what is Taoist Master Yuan doing?"

Li Chunfeng explained: "Master Yuan is calculating the wind direction of each solar term in his mind."

Li Chengqian looked up at the sky.

Li Chunfeng added: "Ever since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince mentioned the matter of wind direction and wind speed, Taoist Yuan has been recording the wind direction and wind speed at each solar term."

"I see."

Li Chengqian bowed to Taoist Yuan and said, "It seems that Taoist Li and Taoist Yuan are not only masters of mathematics. Now is great. The Tang Dynasty may have a meteorologist."

"Meteorologist?" Li Chunfeng repeated, stroking his beard for a long time without saying anything.

"Master." Li Chengqian asked, holding his hands in his pockets, "What are the uses of this Bagua diagram and the stone pillar in the middle?"

Taoist Yuan was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, and the two men stood not far away, discussing in low voices.

Li Chunfeng also put his hands in his pockets, shrank his neck in the cold wind and explained: "The faster the windmill rotates, the buoy below will be pulled up by the rope when the windmill rotates. The wind force can be known at four levels: A, B, C, and D."

Looking closely, I saw that there were indeed scales and a buoy on the stone pillar, and the current wind force was Class D, Level 3.

Li Chengqian asked again: "Only level 4?"

“Oh…” Li Chunfeng said, “The ones above are Grade A and above. We need to wait a few more years to see whether additional measurements are needed. They were only completed this year.”

"So what does this Bagua diagram mean?"

"Then the Bagua position is the wind direction."

"Wouldn't it be better to just use east, south, west, and north?"

"Your Highness, the hexagrams are related to the solar terms. The wind speeds and directions of the solar terms are different, and the hexagrams are used to compare the different solar terms."

Listening to Li Chunfeng talk about his theoretical knowledge, one feels very enlightened.

When a piece of knowledge falls into the hands of a Taoist priest, it is explained using Taoist theoretical knowledge, and it is reasonable that it can involve hexagrams.

Since ancient times, until the Tang Dynasty, the Eight Trigrams have always been connected with the directions of the earth.

Li Chengqian whispered, "Master Yuan, I heard that the land beneath our feet is actually rotating. We are living on a ball."

Li Chunfeng snorted coldly: "I figured it out more than ten years ago, otherwise how could there be the Yellow Path?"

"It turns out that the Taoist priest already knew about this."

"That's natural."

Li Chengqian stood up in awe and bowed.

Li Chunfeng also bowed and said, "Your Highness, there is no need for this."

Taoist Yuan Tiangang had been sitting in front of the Bagua diagram, letting the wind make his Taoist robe rustle, without moving.

It is said that I have never spoken to Master Yuan.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and asked, "How long has he been like this?"

Li Chunfeng sighed, "I have been in meditation since this morning."

"Master Yuan has also worked very hard."

Li Chunfeng leaned in and whispered, "How is Taoist Sun these days?"

Looking at Taoist Yuan who was in meditation, Li Chengqian lowered his voice and said, "Divine Doctor Sun is still compiling the Pharmacopoeia. He comes to the palace once a month to treat my mother and grandfather. He said that he will leave Chang'an after the Pharmacopoeia is completed. He didn't say where he was going, but he is probably going to travel around the world."

Li Chunfeng nodded and said, "He is always like this."

"But Dr. Sun is doing well in Chang'an now. He often treats people in Chang'an. I heard that General Qin Qiong's health has also improved."

After saying this, seeing that it was getting late, Li Chengqian said, "I have many important matters to attend to in the Secretariat, so I won't stay for long."

Li Chunfeng bowed and said, "I dare not delay your highness's important business."

Li Chengqian left the Imperial Observatory with his hands in his pockets. After taking two steps, he frowned and looked at Taoist Yuan who was sitting cross-legged. He saw that the old man was still sitting cross-legged.

So he had no choice but to look away and continue walking towards the Secretariat.

The imperial city was very busy because at the request of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the ministers and vice ministers of various ministries had to come back to hold a small meeting with the vice ministers of various ministries and clerks after a large meeting in the Taiji Hall.

The content of the meeting was nothing more than a word from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and everyone had to draw up trading rules for the winter trade.

So after the morning court session, the ministers and vice ministers of various ministries began to discuss. In the imperial city, clerks came and went.

When Li Chengqian arrived at the Secretariat, a large number of memorials had already piled up there.

Uncle and teacher were busy with their work. As soon as Li Chengqian sat down, Yu Zhining came over quickly and said, "Your Highness, this is the memorial from Jingzhao Prefecture."

Taking the memorial, Li Chengqian frowned and began to read it.

Yu Zhining whispered, "I heard that the Tibetan envoy will be arriving soon."

"It's still autumn, are they here so early?"

"Your Highness, the envoy this time is not an envoy, but a group of Tibetans, who say they are asking for documents for mutual trade with the Tang Dynasty."

Li Chengqian picked up his pen and began to write a memorial, saying, "That is an embassy."

Yu Zhining nodded.

"I understand. Please ask the people from the Honglu Temple to prepare to receive them."

"Here."

After saying this, Li Chengqian glanced at his teacher and uncle who were still busy reviewing documents.

The sudden workload has kept all the departments in the court that were named today extremely busy.

It was not until night that Chu Suiliang received a bar of soap and a roll of paper outside the Suzaku Gate.

There was a thick stack of paper, tied into a roll with a rope, which was too big to be wrapped around with one hand. The person distributing the paper and soap was a man named Wei Chang.

The court knows less and less about the affairs of Jingyang recently.

As for the news about Jingyang, there has been very little news since the grapes were planted this summer.

I just heard that the young master of Jingzhao Duling, Master Du He, has now become a very wealthy businessman in Guanzhong, and has a close relationship with the current crown prince.

But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been living in seclusion for many years and has not had much contact with Du He.

But Du He has always been willing to work for the current prince, and is even willing to deliver countless soaps to the Hexi Corridor.

This is the suspicious point in the relationship between the prince and Du He.

Even when building the Hexi Corridor, Du He spent a huge amount of money and sent truckloads of soap to the Hexi Corridor.

If this Master Du He were not a businessman and was not profitable, His Majesty should have rewarded him.

As a result, Du He acted according to his word in Guanzhong and was almost becoming the most reputable businessman in the area.

Chu Suiliang walked on Zhuque Street with doubts in his heart.

Before the curfew, Zhuque Street will still be bustling at night.

In the imperial city and the Secretariat, Li Chengqian only received the regulations memorials from the Censorate and Jingzhao Prefecture. The trade regulations from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites had not yet been delivered.

Yu Zhining came over in a hurry and said, "Your Highness, they are still discussing it."

Li Chengqian stood up and said, "It's getting late, let them all go back."

"Yes." Yu Zhining left in a hurry again.

"After notifying the various departments, you should also go back and rest early."

After hearing the instructions, Yu Zhining smiled awkwardly, bowed, and left.

Li Chengqian turned over the chairs and stools and placed them on the table, and then began to clean the Secretariat. After sweeping the floor, he came back early in the morning and saw that the floor was clean and the chairs and stools were on the table, which made him feel very comfortable.

It was completely dark and the moon was shining brightly in the sky.

When Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace, Xiaofu was cooking and his younger brothers and sisters were playing the game of passing the flower.

This game is very simple. The more people there are, the more fun it is. Brothers and sisters sit together and sing songs.

Seeing that it was her brother who had returned, Li Lizhi hurriedly said, "Brother, my mother sent someone to tell me that we will be visiting Qujiang Lake tomorrow."

"I know."

Seeing her brother's tired reply, Li Lizhi stood still and complained, "Father always leaves a lot of things to my brother. Is there no one else in the court who can be used?"

Dongyang said: "There are some things that Father doesn't want you to do, but you can't just sit back and do nothing."

Li Lizhi sighed and said, "After all, Dongyang, you are able to see through my brother's mind."

Dongyang smiled and said, "If you talk more with Sister Ning, you will understand what the emperor is thinking."

Li Zhi was beating a small drum. Fortunately, it was a small drum. If the sound was louder, people who didn't know would think that the Eastern Palace was going to rebel.

At night, after Yu Zhining finished his work, he waited for the people from various departments in the imperial city to walk out of the Suzaku Gate before he felt relieved.

Today's Suzaku Gate was closed the latest ever.

Xu Xiaode just got the soap and a roll of paper.

Yu Zhining also received the paper and soap sent by Jingyang.

"Minister Yu, how are you these days?"

Hearing this, Yu Zhining smiled and said, "Minister Xu must be very busy in the Ministry of Works."

Xu Xiaode said, "Yes, the Ministry of Works has been very busy recently. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to visit more blacksmiths in the market, saying that it was a work visit. I don't know what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to do."

"I heard that His Majesty summoned Master Yan. Did he not embarrass you?"

"Minister Yu, don't think too much. In fact, Master Yan has always been very caring towards me."

The two of them were walking on the street, and since they lived in the same town, they could talk as they walked.

Yu Zhining remained by the prince's side, while Xu Xiaode himself worked in the Ministry of Works. Xu Xiaode had no objection to the prince's arrangement.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a man who values ​​efficiency, and he will keep whoever is more capable.

Xu Xiaode also knew that his abilities were not as good as Yu Zhining's.

When they reached the door of their home, Xu Xiaode said goodbye to Yu Zhining.

In autumn in Guanzhong, the wind blows continuously at night, making the windows shake.

Every household closed their doors and windows after nightfall.

Looking at the current Chang'an City from a high place, you can see bright lights illuminating the main streets.

In the eighth year of Zhenguan, more and more people moved into Chang'an, and the city became more prosperous.

In the early morning of mid-October in Guanzhong, frost fell on the streets and roofs.

There was a whistling sound of arrows coming from the direction of the East Palace, and an arrow pierced the air and hit the center of the target.

Li Ji asked, "How does Your Highness feel?"

"I don't feel anything, no different from before."

"Weight-bearing exercise doesn't work overnight. It takes persistence for a year or two to see results."

Exercise is like this. If you can't persist, there will be no effect, especially physical and strength training.

(End of this chapter)