The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 461: A Lifetime Wish: Rank in Lingyan Pavilion

Duke Zheng's words are plain and simple, but very profound, and he can persuade people by citing classics.

Unfortunately, there is only one Duke Zheng in the Tang Dynasty. I hope that Duke Zheng’s words can be passed down and become the spirit of the Tang people.

Anything that is beneficial to the country is important, regardless of an emperor's preferences, so when it comes to governing the country, everything that should be done must be done.

The Jingyang Printing House is still making losses, but it can afford it, as among the books it prints are Zheng Gong's quotations.

Who could have thought that Duke Zheng could help the emperor while he was alive.

Duke Zheng can also become a valuable spiritual wealth of the country after his death.

Li Chengqian sat alone in the Lingyan Pavilion, looking at portraits, some of which were fierce-looking military generals and some old people with kind faces.

When the flame in the basin went out, only paper ashes were left.

The elderly eunuch Yang looked into the Lingyan Pavilion and saw His Majesty sitting alone inside, with the letters in the brazier having burned out.

The cold wind blew into the Lingyan Pavilion through the window, blowing up the paper ashes in the brazier and floating them in the Lingyan Pavilion, and the portraits of the meritorious officials also swayed.

Li Chengqian picked up a portrait and hung it on the wall here. It was a portrait of Guo Luotuo. From then on, he could be listed in the Lingyan Pavilion, the 25th Lingyan Pavilion hero.

There is a rumor in the palace that the current emperor writes a letter every year and burns it in the Lingyan Pavilion to comfort the heroes of the Tang Dynasty.

The emperor has done this every New Year since he ascended the throne.

This rumor quickly spread to the government and the public, and then to the people.

The image of this emperor appeared even more wise in the public and in people's hearts.

An emperor who never forgets his meritorious officials is of course a good emperor, and he goes to the Lingyan Pavilion every year. The emperors after the Tang Dynasty would do so to comfort their heroes every year.

So the lifelong ideal of the young people of the Tang Dynasty is to make contributions to the country and be listed in the Lingyan Pavilion during their lifetime.

In this way, they can get comfort from the emperors of the Tang Dynasty. There is no need to fear death. Even if there is no one in the family to burn incense, the emperor still remembers them.

There is a huge food store in Anyifang. The food here is cheap, but only officials from the court or their families come here to eat.

As soon as winter comes in Chang'an, prices will rise, and most of the officials with meager salaries in the court will come here to eat.

It only costs one penny a day to have three full meals, and officials can eat here almost for free. This is a new establishment in the court to facilitate the officials living in Chang'an.

The court only needed to provide officials with food, clothing and shelter.

This is the benefit of a wealthy court, but the emperor still advocates frugality.

For the emperor, this kind of thing is very simple. He just needs to set an example to create a trend.

If the family is too extravagant, at best they will be criticized by officials in the court, and at worst they will be targeted by the censors.

Unless you are in a high position of power, everything is given by the emperor.

There are many similar places in Chang'an, such as Chongwenguan, Wenxueguan, and Sifangguan, all of which have such food shops.

Many officials were having meals here, while Lu Zhaolin was drinking alone. He didn't have many friends in Chang'an and often kept to himself.

One child shouted loudly: "I am Luo Binwang! I will definitely be ranked in the Lingyan Pavilion in this life!"

Hearing this, Lu Zhaolin glanced sideways and burst out laughing.

The officials in the tavern also laughed.

Luo Binwang's face turned red. He looked at the teacher beside him and saw that the teacher was neither humble nor arrogant.

He, Luo Binwang, also raised his head and looked down upon everyone with a mocking look.

Bai Fang nudged Pei Xingjian with his arm.

"What?"

"General Pei, can I also be ranked in the Lingyan Pavilion in the future?"

Pei Xingjian put down his chopsticks and said, "It's very difficult to be ranked in the Lingyan Pavilion."

Bai Fang asked, "How difficult is it?"

Pei Xingjian hesitated and asked, "Isn't Wang Xuance's contribution great enough?"

"General Wang conquered India and led his troops a thousand miles to rescue the Pamirs. He is indeed worthy of being listed in the Lingyan Pavilion."

"how about you?"

"I!" Bai Fang hesitated, and said seriously, "Then I will destroy a small country too?"

Pei Xingjian nodded and said, "Which small country should be destroyed?"

Bai Fang immediately replied: "Arab!"

"Haha..." Pei Xingjian said with a smile: "The Ministry of Rites has collected a lot of information about the Arabs. They are not a small country."

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Bai Fang's eyes became even more determined to fight.

Pei Xingjian also let him go.

When leaving here, Pei Xingjian returned to the General of the Guards' Mansion and heard the soldiers here talking about the Lingyan Pavilion.

"My lifelong wish is to be ranked in the Lingyan Pavilion."

In just a few days, these words had become the talk of the ambitious people in Chang'an City.

But it is not so easy to enter the Lingyan Pavilion. During the Zhenguan period, it took several expeditions to the east and the west, and an entire generation to have twenty-four heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion.

That was an entire generation. The heroes of that time had all grown old. Pei Xingjian knew very well that if his generation wanted to enter the Lingyan Pavilion, they had to have achievements that far surpassed those of others in the contemporary era.

In an entire generation, how many people can be listed in the Lingyan Pavilion?
In the past, Guo Luotuo was a very inconspicuous person, until he planted grapes in Guanzhong and built karez in the Western Regions, and let the people of Sinong Temple plant large areas of grain in Liaodong.

So far, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Qing, only Guo Luotuo has been listed in the Lingyan Pavilion.
Pei Xingjian felt that it was only a matter of time before Wang Xuance entered the Lingyan Pavilion.

There was still constant discussion in Chang'an City, but by the quiet Xianyang Bridge, it was the warm season when the ice and snow melted, the sun was shining, and the Baili River was blooming.

The cold winter finally began to retreat. As the Lantern Festival approached, Songtsen Gampo was sitting by the Xianyang Bridge and fishing with the Heavenly Khan.

The soldiers and horses guarding the surrounding areas dispersed all pedestrians within a three-mile radius.

Songtsen Gampo said, "Sambuza sent me a letter saying that there are thirty Tibetan children coming to Chang'an this year."

"Do you think it's too little or too much?"

"Your Majesty, no matter how many Tibetan children come to Chang'an, can they all go home?"

Li Chengqian said: "Of course, that is the agreement between you and me."

Ying Gong was also sitting nearby, holding a fishing rod, looking calmly at the river.

Songtsen Gampo's complexion was neither better nor worse than before. He still wore Tibetan clothes, but he ate Tang food.

Li Chengqian handed him a list and said, "This is the list of officials from Sinong Temple who will be transferred to Tubo this year."

Songtsen Gampo took the list with both hands with great respect, looked at the names on the list, and asked: "Can they make Tubo more prosperous?"

Li Chengqian said: "I hope so."

Mr. Ying suddenly pulled up the fishing rod. The fishing line was shaking and the fishing rod was bent. As the fishing rod was slowly lifted up, the fish could be seen floating out of the water and struggling.

Mr. Ying loosened his grip on the fishing rod slightly, letting the fish struggle and draining away its energy.

Songtsen Gampo stared at the water and watched the fishing line move towards the center of the river. Half a minute later, the fish finally stopped struggling.

Seeing Ying Gong easily pull the big fish to the shore, Songtsen Gampo looked a little more uneasy and lonely. After fishing for half a day, except for Ying Gong who caught a big fish, Li Chengqian and Songtsen Gampo got nothing.

Sometimes I also feel that my father’s way of fishing makes sense. He lets the eunuchs hold the fishing rods, and if they fail to catch any fish, they can scold others.

The sun was a little warmer than the previous few days. When the emperor returned to the palace, it was already afternoon and Guanzhong had completely gotten over the severe cold.

Li Chunfeng returned to Chang'an City and chose Qianling Mausoleum for the current emperor.

Originally, Li Chengqian didn't care what would happen after his death or where he would be buried.

My father's funeral was held in Zhaoling Mausoleum.

Listening to Li Chunfeng talking about the direction of mountains or water, people only had a vague understanding of what he was saying. Mingda, who was sitting nearby, didn't care about these details.

After looking at the picture, Li Chengqian said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Taoist Li."

Li Chunfeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty made the telescope for the Imperial Observatory. What I have done is not worth mentioning."

Li Chengqian looked at Mingda standing beside him and said, "I have asked people to build a huge telescope on Laojun Mountain so that future generations can see more stars."

Li Chunfeng said loudly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chunfeng is not as energetic as he was back then. Li Chengqian walked with him in the palace and said, "Master Li is still unwilling to pass on his unique skills to me."

Li Chunfeng said: "Your Majesty does not need my unique skills. In fact, Your Majesty is a person with unique skills. Why do you insist on my skills? Perhaps your Majesty's unique skills are better than mine."

Li Chengqian continued, "I thought you were making up an excuse, saying that your unique skills are only suitable for young children, or can only be taught to people with exceptional physiques."

"Your Majesty, you are joking. There is no end to the knowledge in this world."

Li Chengqian and Mingda bid farewell to Taoist Li Chunfeng again. He was going on a long journey again to build a mausoleum.

This Taoist Priest Li is just like Taoist Priest Yuan, always coming and going in a hurry.

I have only been in Chang'an for three or five days and I have to leave.

After leaving, I don’t know when I will come back.

After Yuan Tiangang said goodbye that year, he never came back.

Little Magpie came running over and said, "Aunt Mingda."

Mingda held her niece's hand and asked, "What do you want to play today?"

"I want to learn about astrology."

Li Chengqian watched his daughter and Mingda walk towards the Imperial Observatory.

Eunuch Yang smiled as he watched the little princess and Princess Jinyang walk together. He said in an old voice, "Your Majesty, the little princess is good at learning."

"Well, she just wants to learn everything, but she can't learn anything thoroughly."

Eunuch Yang added: "The little princess's thoughts are very similar to your majesty's."

Li Chengqian said: "I am too harsh."

"It's better to be a little harsh."

Eunuch Yang walked behind His Majesty with a smile on his face.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the curfew in Chang'an City ended. The city was brightly lit and people celebrated the New Year. The sixth year of Qianqing officially began.

Zhang Jianzhi and Bai Fang were drinking heavily. "You are leaving for the Western Regions tomorrow. We must get drunk before you leave."

He then filled the bowl with wine. Just as he was about to drink, he saw the bowl was taken away. Looking back, Zhang Jianzhi's eyes were filled with tears. He rushed forward and said, "Prince Jin, Prince Ji!"

Li Zhi snorted coldly: "Why? I've been grounded for a month, and you can still sit here and drink?"

Li Shen also said coldly: "Your brother is ignorant, and we helped you teach him a lesson. As a result, we were confined by our father for a month. Why don't you come to visit us?"

Zhang Jianzhi lamented, "My younger brother is ignorant and makes the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Ji worried."

Li Zhi looked around and asked, "Where are Zhang Hui's men?"

"I didn't know until I went to Chongwen Hall that he had gone to teach in Liaodong because he was afraid of being beaten again."

"Haha... He ran far enough." Li Zhi instructed the attendant behind him, "Tell Huaiying to arrange a few bad guys to go to Liaodong and beat Zhang Hui up again."

"Here."

Compared with Zhang Jianzhi, Li Zhi looked down on Zhang Huizhi even more.

At least after Li Zhi came back, Zhang Huizhi was beaten badly, even worse than Zhang Jianzhi's fate.

Li Zhi sat down at the table where they were drinking and asked, "I heard from Pei Xingjian that you want to be in the Lingyan Pavilion?"

Bai Fang nodded heavily and said, "If I destroy the Arabs, I will be able to rank in the Lingyan Pavilion."

Li Zhi clinked his wine bowl with his, and they both drank it all in one gulp. They had both killed enemies together in the Pamir Mountains, so they hit it off immediately.

Soon, Pei Xingjian, Wang Xuance and Jiang Shiren also came.

When Xue Rengui, Cheng Chumo and Pei Yan arrived here together.

The young generals who fought together in the Pamir Mountains back then reunited again.

Pei Yan was still the same as before, with a stern face, not saying a word, just drinking with everyone.

Xue Rengui talked about the plan to destroy the Arabs.

Pei Xingjian said, "The territory of the Arab Empire is very vast, probably comparable to that of the Tang Dynasty today. If we want to destroy the Arab Empire, it will not be enough to have only one army."

Seeing everyone looking at him, Wang Xuance was surprised and said, "Why are you looking at me? I don't want to destroy the Arabs."

Di Renjie arrived late. He walked into the tavern and brought a stool. "The court will not agree to the western expedition to the Arabs until the Anxi Protectorate is built. Moreover, many small countries west of the Pamir Mountains have not been pacified."

When everyone was talking about how to destroy the Arabs, Di Renjie immediately poured cold water on them. A practical problem was before them: when would the Anxi Protectorate be built, and there was no whereabouts for the four towns of Anxi.

The army is out there without support from the rear. Once their retreat is cut off, the consequences will be disastrous.

This is not a joke. It is several times more difficult than taking over the four cities in Pamirs.

Everyone heard cheers outside the tavern, and when they looked up they saw lanterns flying across the sky above Chang'an City.

Zhang Jianzhi smiled and said, "This was arranged by Chongwen Hall. They asked the teachers in each county to gather students to fly Kongming lanterns together."

In the peaceful and prosperous city of Chang'an, people became a little quieter when they saw the sky full of sky lanterns.

Di Renjie stood at the front, looking at the sky full of Kongming lanterns with a smile on his face, and said loudly: "I almost forgot that the Lantern Festival is to light lanterns."

On the wall of the imperial palace, Li Chengqian took a long sword from his father.

"I should have given it to you long ago, but I am good with a bow, not a sword."

Listening to his father's words, Li Chengqian drew his sword from its sheath, looked at the sharp blade light, and said with a smile, "Nice sword."

The night wind blew the Kongming lanterns in the night sky, and the clothes of the father and son also moved with the wind.

Li Yuan sat in the back, looking at the father and son, and said with a smile: "In which dynasty can there be three emperors living together?"

Xiao Que'er said: "May the old man live a long life. The three emperors are a great story of our Tang Dynasty."

Li Yuan said slowly: "I have been on the throne for nine years, your grandfather has been on the throne for twenty years, and I don't know how long your father will be on the throne."

(End of this chapter)