The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 391 I don’t like eating fish recently

Xuanzang looked around. The grass here had been pulled out, and even the ground had been swept clean. There was not a single stone on the ground. Some potholes seemed to have been filled in. Compared with other places around, this place was cleaned up with extreme meticulousness.

Seeing that the other party didn't say anything, Shangguan Tingzhi asked again: "Do you know why His Majesty left so soon?"

Xuanzang shook his head and said nothing.

"On the day your majesty ascended the throne, all the counties in Guanzhong came to congratulate you. Chang'an City was once packed with people. Your majesty is now deeply loved by the people, but the popularity of the people makes your majesty a little nervous, so he went out fishing without informing his whereabouts."

"Your Majesty wants to avoid disturbing the villagers. If the villagers of each county know about your trip, many people will gather around you, which will put your Majesty in a dilemma. Therefore...you must not let outsiders know."

Shangguan Tingzhi smiled and said, "May I ask how you know His Majesty's whereabouts?"

There was a hint of alertness in Xuanzang's eyes.

Shangguan Tingzhi added: "I am currently on duty at the Dali Temple, serving as the Dali Temple's Junior Secretary, and my affairs are related to information channels. Anyone who leaks the whereabouts of His Majesty must be dealt with."

Seeing that the other party still didn't speak, Shangguan Tingzhi's tone became more serious, "Xuanzang, you came all the way from India. Without the Tang army running for you, how could Songtsen Gampo let you go so easily?"

The Dali Temple had already investigated everything about Xuanzang, from the time he left Chang'an to the many twists and turns he encountered when he returned to Guanzhong.

"Tell me who sold you the information now. The Dali Temple will not bother with you because you are a prisoner pardoned this year. If you don't tell me, you can sit in the Dali Temple's jail now."

Xuanzang closed his eyes and said devoutly, "The monks of Shengguang Temple bought the news. I just want to see Your Majesty, nothing else."

Shangguan Tingzhi turned around and whistled, and the bad guys led by Wei Chang immediately surrounded him.

"Surround Shengguang Temple and don't let any monks escape."

"Here."

Before Xuanzang could say something else, he saw Shangguan Tingzhi had already climbed onto his horse.

After returning to Chang'an City, Xuanzang was shocked to realize how much disaster his words and deeds had brought to Shengguang Temple. Monks were captured one after another.

But when the government asked him, could Xuanzang not tell the truth?
Shangguan Tingzhi personally led a group of people to arrest several information dealers in the streets, and even arrested a few people in the imperial guards.

The current emperor is a strict person, so the ministers under the emperor are also strict.

Today, His Majesty was in a bad mood while going fishing, and dozens of people were taken to jail.

After the interrogation, the Dali Temple released some irrelevant people and escorted several culprits to the Western Regions to plant trees.

Chang'an City is in great need of volunteers. There are 108 wards in Chang'an City. This prosperous city with a population of one million is very short of manpower to govern and manage.

Therefore, Jingzhao Prefecture and Dali Temple often cooperated.

The person who bought the news was not Xuanzang. Xuanzang was at most a listener. Sun Fujia looked at the written file and said, "This is not new. In the past, people made a living by selling this kind of news. It's just that the new emperor has been on the throne for less than half a year, and this kind of thing has happened again."

Shangguan Tingzhi let Xuanzang go. He didn't think that a monk who had just returned to Chang'an a few days ago would have any contact with the news dealers in Chang'an City.

But Xuanzang still took the initiative to confess his guilt.

This Xuanzang seemed to radiate the radiance of humanity.

Shangguan Tingzhi didn't like this kind of people, so he continued to lead a group of bad people to walk around the streets of Chang'an City, asking questions everywhere.

Xuanzang was a very lucky man. Fortunately, he returned safely to Chang'an after traveling to India for more than ten years. What was even more fortunate was that... his old friend Popo had prayed for the seriously ill prince.

Li Chengqian and other officials in the Secretariat arranged the selection and placement of officials for this year's imperial examinations, and also received good news from Liaodong that Jin Chunchu of Silla had crossed the sea with a large army to attack the Japanese and had won a series of great victories.

Chang Sun Wuji said: "But those Japanese envoys no longer come to the Suzaku Gate to cry and complain."

Li Chengqian stood in front of Xingqing Palace and asked, "Why?"

"The Japanese felt that they were the first to offend the Tang Dynasty at Baijiangkou, and Jin Chunqiu was right to lead the troops to attack under the orders of the Tang Dynasty. The Japanese envoys felt that the Japanese should die under the swords of the Tang army, and even wanted to hand over more Japanese to Jin Chunqiu to kill."

Li Chengqian asked, "Should I stretch my neck out to let Jin Chunqiu kill me?"

Chang Sun Wuji nodded slowly and said, "That's right, so the Japanese envoy will no longer plead for his people. If necessary... it's better not to say anything."

"If such people are not destroyed, it will be unforgivable to heaven."

Changsun Wuji nodded in agreement.

Li Chengqian said with an unhappy look: "Let Jin Chunqiu dig up the silver mines of the Japanese, and then kill them all. It makes me want to vomit just hearing this."

"Here."

"I have heard of something recently."

"Uncle, please tell me."

Chang Sun Wuji stood beside His Majesty and asked again, "Your Majesty, are you really not going to see the monk named Xuanzang?"

Li Chengqian clenched his fist to support his temple and tilted his head and asked, "Is it necessary to see him?"

Changsun Wuji replied: "After Xuanzang returned to Chang'an, something happened with the Dali Temple. After that, he no longer sought to see Your Majesty, but devoted himself to compiling scriptures."

"Ah."

It seemed that just saying these words was not enough to persuade His Majesty to meet Xuanzang. Changsun Wuji continued, "If that were all, I would also think it would be fine for Your Majesty not to meet Xuanzang. However, Xuanzang is now followed by many monks. Since the Wude period, the Emperor Taishang has issued an order to order monks to return to secular life. If Xuanzang can return to secular life, then more monks will return to secular life."

"I have had Xuanzang imprisoned in Shazhou for four years, and he has not returned to secular life. I don't think it is possible to make him return to secular life just by talking."

Zhang Sun Wuji continued, "Whether Xuanzang returns to secular life is not important. What is important is that Xuanzang can help more monks return to secular life. Besides, since Bo Po prayed for the blessing of His Majesty, who was still the crown prince, should he also see him?"

Li Chengqian still maintained his previous sitting posture, with one fist supporting his temple and his eyes closed.

Seeing that His Majesty was silent, Changsun Wuji also stood aside in silence.

After a long while, Li Chengqian finally said, "Then let's meet him, but there's no need to publicize it. I'll meet him at the Weishui River Silt Dam in Weinan."

Zhang Sun Wuji smiled comfortingly and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Xuanzang's spirit is worthy of praise. I hope that more Tang people can go out and spread the seeds of Tang people. If someone in a distant place can conquer the next country in the future and re-establish a country and join the Tang Dynasty, I can be regarded as benefiting future generations. If Xuanzang really has a few children with Tang blood, it would be even better."

Changsun Wuji nodded again.

"My uncle is the regent appointed by my father. I thought my uncle would advise me not to meet Xuanzang."

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "As a regent, I will advise Your Majesty and let Your Majesty do what should be done."

"At least my uncle won't ask me to take more concubines like my uncle did."

Changsun Wuji was speechless again, but it was not that he didn’t mean it… it was just that…

It has been three years since the construction of the silt dam was completed.

It was still the beginning of summer in May in Guanzhong. Li Chengqian and Li Tai were walking along the silt dam, talking about what happened in the past.

"In fact, after the dam was built, it was repaired more than ten times. This is the largest dam in Guanzhong. It was originally planned to be built to the west of Xianyang Bridge, but later it was abandoned because the river was too wide."

Li Tai now has a beard, which he strokes from time to time.

Li Chengqian always had stubble on his chin.

There are many vegetables planted on the silt land beside the silt dam, and hundreds of acres of fertile land can be opened up along the silt land of the silt dam. Li Tai pointed to a few small trees and said, "These are the jujube trees planted by Guo Luotuo..."

After a pause, he continued, "I heard that the Sino-Agricultural Ministry has sent a lot of people to the Western Regions again?"

Li Chengqian nodded again, "The construction of the karez in the Western Regions will continue. It is not over after Guo Luotuo's visit. There will be more people who will continue to build. There is a very special guard house in the Western Regions. They are responsible for arranging production and construction. These people were established by Sinong Temple."

Li Tai nodded.

Xue Rengui hurried over to report: "Your Majesty, Xuanzang is here."

Li Tai looked at Xue Rengui now. The Right General of the Army was often responsible for the emperor's safety when he traveled.

Li Chengqian did not ask Xuanzang to come over immediately, but said to Xue Rengui: "There are many brave generals in the court, but after the Central Plains has recuperated and accumulated national strength, I still need you to expand the territory."

"I will not refuse death."

Xue Rengui replied in a deep voice.

Li Chengqian nodded and signaled the soldiers in the distance to bring the person over.

Xuanzang was invited secretly, not summoned with great fanfare.

Besides, to outsiders, it was just a chance encounter between Your Majesty and Xuanzang.

Xuanzang came with his head lowered, holding a book.

Li Tai looked at Xuanzang, who seemed to be about 40 years old and extremely humble.

"Xuanzang pays his respects to Your Majesty." After saying this, he bowed.

"No need to be so polite." Li Chengqian said, "In fact, I have read all your letters over the years."

Xuanzang lowered his head and said, "I have never seen your Majesty's reply."

Li Chengqian said: "Yes, I throw it away every time I finish reading it."

Xuanzang was silent again.

"Are the Indians powerful?"

Hearing His Majesty's question, Xuanzang said, "I don't know what Your Majesty means by powerful."

Li Chengqian stood by the river with his hands behind his back, "It was just an unintentional question, you don't have to take it to heart."

Xuanzang held up the scroll in his hand, bowed and said, "This is the map I took from the Western Regions to India. Your Majesty, please accept it."

Xue Rengui took the scroll with a sullen face and stood aside again.

Li Chengqian also signaled to the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch handed a roll of bamboo slips tied with a thin rope to Xuanzang. The bamboo slips had turned black and had been kept in the East Palace for many years and had only been taken down now.

Xuanzang took the bamboo slips respectfully.

Li Chengqian said, "This was given to me by Popo. He hoped that I could read it and explained that you decided to go to India after reading this scroll. However, this scroll has been in my hands for so many years and I have never opened it to read it."

Xuanzang untied the knot and saw the Indian characters. He bowed and said, "I did read this scripture in the past. I asked Popo about my confusion and that's why I traveled west to India and brought the complete scripture back."

"I also heard that you have a life-and-death friendship with the King of Gaochang?"

"Yes, the King of Gaochang wanted to keep me several times, but I refused."

"Is there really a country ruled by women in the depths of the Western Regions?"

"I have traveled all over the Western Regions, but I have never seen such a country."

"How many disciples do you have?"

"My only disciple has returned to secular life. His name is Bai Fang, and he is from the Western Regions."

Li Chengqian checked the map in his hand, handed it to the eunuch beside him, and ordered: "Give it to the Minister of War Cui Dunli."

"Here."

"Even though you have a deep friendship with the King of Gaochang, the Tang Dynasty still conquered Gaochang for the sake of family and country. Do you have any resentment about this?"

Xuanzang added: "I am a disciple of Buddha. I only have sentient beings in my heart, and no resentment."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "That's great. If one day the Tang Dynasty wants to attack India and is still worried that you will obstruct it, then I will be relieved."

"The affairs of the world have nothing to do with Buddha, and the grudges of the world have nothing to do with the scriptures."

"I didn't want to see you at first, but because Popo prayed for me, and to fulfill the promise I made to Popo, I had to see you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian asked: "Can you fish?"

Hearing this, Xuanzang was a little surprised again, but before he could object, a fishing rod was placed in front of him.

Li Chengqian held a fishing rod in his hand and threw the fishing line into the river.

Xuanzang consciously kept a distance from His Majesty and threw his fishing line into the river.

The two men stood at a distance, waiting for the fish to take the bait.

Xuanzang looked at his own fishing line, then at His Majesty's fishing line, on which were hung some small beads.

Seen from the river surface, these small beads appear to be strung on a fishing line, so that subtle changes in the line can be seen?

Whether he was facing the extravagant King of Gaochang, the King of India who was good at commanding all his subjects, or the difficult and talented Songtsen Gampo.

Or maybe other kings of the Western Regions, or even merchants from Persia. Xuanzang believed that he had met many, many people in his more than ten years of traveling.

Facing the kings, Xuanzang, who had always been confident, now faced his majesty. For some reason, Xuanzang felt an indescribable fear in his heart.

It's like facing someone who has already seen through everything, and any excuses will be seen through.

It is said that the current emperor of the Tang Dynasty is powerful, and these rumors are not wrong.

If the Tang Dynasty really wanted to conquer India, Xuanzang felt that he could not stop it or influence it at all. So why did Your Majesty ask this question?

Xuanzang asked: "Your Majesty, what kind of agreement did Popo make with you before he passed away?"

Before Li Chengqian could answer, he saw the fishing line sink, so he lifted the fishing rod with force and a huge fish was caught. In the sunlight, the scales of the fish emitted a dazzling light.

"Good fish!" Li Tai shouted from behind.

Li Chengqian put away the fishing rod, skillfully took the fish off the hook, and put it into the fish basket beside him. He said, "I don't like eating fish recently, so I'll give it to you."

Xuanzang was still sitting there, and before he could refuse, a guard put the fish next to him.

(End of this chapter)