The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 504 I Overestimated His Character
Li Shimin left his seat beside his son and came to his wife. Seeing that she also had many white hairs, he whispered, "Guanyin, take a look at Chengqian."

Empress Dowager Changsun first glanced at her husband, then at her son, and said, "What? Are you still complaining that he didn't build a summer palace for you?"

Li Shimin frowned and said nothing more.

It has been many years since this happened, but it is still on the minds of the father and son.

Although there was no clear decree, Cheng Qian's actions seemed to indicate that he wanted to give the entire Laojun Mountain to Xiao Sizi.

His Majesty the present time merely gave Laojun Mountain a place name, and from then on Laojun Mountain became a place related to the emperor.

The whole world belongs to Your Majesty, so of course you can give a name to a place.

Li Chengqian handed the six words to Mingda who was standing beside him.

Li Chunfeng held the whisk in one hand and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Shimin saw that Cheng Qian had retained Li Chunfeng just by using Laojun Mountain, and the so-called observatory on Laojun Mountain had not been officially built yet, it was just an excuse.

Looking at his son again, Li Shimin whispered: "Guanyin, I always feel that..."

Empress Dowager Changsun smiled and said, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Li Shimin lowered his voice, moved his chair, and quietly approached his wife who was sitting at the table, and said, "I always feel that I have overestimated the character of Cheng Qian before."

Empress Dowager Changsun shook her head and said, "Cheng Qian is not a saint. He will have to use some tricks for the sake of the country."

Li Shimin stood up, walked to the side and looked at his own ancestral temple, frowning for a long time without saying a word.

Empress Dowager Changsun looked at her son's back and said to Ning'er and Su Wan beside her: "It's because Cheng Qian has too little, so he needs these means even more."

Ning Er nodded slightly and whispered, "In fact, when you were still in the East Palace, Your Majesty knew that the ability that father possessed was unique and gifted."

Su Wan also said: "It is said that a son is like his father, but Your Majesty will not be a man like your father. Your Majesty knew it a long time ago."

Not everyone can live like the emperor, a Khan admired by heroes all over the world.

Even if the current emperor is a strict one, so what? His Majesty never thought of living like his father from the beginning.

Ning'er said, "Don't worry, mother. Your Majesty knows very well that to govern the country well, you don't have to be a man like your father, but what kind of person is needed to govern the country."

Empress Dowager Changsun nodded. Su Wan was the daughter of a prominent family, and Ning'er often accompanied Cheng Qian to read books when she lived in the Eastern Palace for a long time. The views of these two women were different from those of ordinary women.

In the past, Su Wan was still determined by the classical idea of ​​a daughter of a famous family, but after she married Cheng Qian, she changed more and more. She had been changing the martial arts of the Su family, and she herself had changed unconsciously.

After thinking about all this, Empress Dowager Changsun was very satisfied with the two daughters-in-law. She felt that there was probably no one in the world more suitable for Cheng Qian than them.

In front of the ancestral temple, incense is still burning brightly. The spirit tablets of the old grandfather and the old great grandfather stand above, with only two lines of words left, nothing else.

At this time every year, people worship their ancestors. The current grandfather and grandfather are also the ancestors of the Li family.

Eunuch Yang held a stick of incense tremblingly and burned incense to the ancestors of the Li family.

This incense was given to him by His Majesty. He was so moved that he burst into tears that he could burn incense for the ancestors of the emperor's family.

Little Sizi said, "Brother, Mingda has gone to look for Que'er and the others first."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Her Taoist robe fluttered in the wind, and she left here with a whisk in her hand.

Li Chunfeng whispered, "Your Majesty, I have passed on all I have learned in my life to Princess Jinyang."

It is hard to say whether this Taoist priest really passed on all he had learned to Xiao Sizi. Moreover, based on past understanding, it is very likely that this Taoist priest kept his knowledge to himself.

Noticing that His Majesty still had a skeptical look in his eyes, Li Chunfeng said, "Your Majesty, I have indeed taught the princess everything I have learned throughout my life."

"really?"

His Majesty looked as if he had just come to his senses, and he still looked unconvinced. Li Chunfeng asked again, "Your Majesty, do you still not believe me?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Looking at the current Taoist sect, there are probably not many people in the world who can match the knowledge of Princess Jinyang. Moreover, even those hermits in the Taoist sect may not be more knowledgeable about astrology than Her Highness the Princess. Her Highness the Princess is gifted."

Li Chengqian said: "Master Li, I am very grateful that you cured Sizi's congenital defect."

Li Chunfeng sighed, his expression calmed down again, and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to thank me."

"Master Li." Li Chengqian paused and smiled, "I will have people build the largest telescope and observatory ever built on Laojun Mountain. I will also build a Taoist temple on the mountain."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"If you don't let me thank you, then I don't have to either."

Li Chunfeng asked again, "Has anyone recently made suggestions to Your Majesty regarding the Fengshan ceremony?"

In fact, the emperor could also confer titles on famous mountains all over the world. It was not without court officials who had advised him to do so. Even those who had proposed moving the capital had mentioned it. Besides, the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai was nominally performed when the emperor was still the crown prince.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, this was the first time that a crown prince was enthroned on Mount Tai.

After that, Li Chengqian had no interest in sealing famous mountains all over the world.

Li Chunfeng then talked about his views on numerology and astrology, and Li Chengqian listened quietly. According to Taoist Li's story, he had traveled to many places in the Central Plains over the years, searching for the mystery of the earth's rotation, but this was also a difficult problem. For example, why did the earth rotate, and where was the power for its rotation?

It is gratifying that Master Li’s research has finally produced a hypothesis similar to gravity and air pressure. Although it is only an inference and no formal conclusion has been drawn, it is already a good start.

The Tang Dynasty finally had its own theory of gravity, and under the emperor's leadership, this theory would be developed and promoted starting from Laojun Mountain.

Although, Li Chunfeng also felt that this idea was too absurd. In people's taken-for-granted lives, they have long been accustomed to the current environment and instinctively think that the current environment is as it should be.

Therefore, Li Chunfeng did not intend to spend too much effort on this theory, but instead wanted to speculate the changing patterns of the sun, moon and earth on a larger time scale.

Li Chunfeng said sincerely: "Your Majesty, can we allow Laojun Mountain to continue for hundreds of years and record the laws of the sun and the moon for hundreds of years?"

"This is easy for the Emperor's family. Master Li is worrying too much."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I wish that Taoist Li can improve the astronomical knowledge of the Tang Dynasty. People should not forget to look up at the starry sky from time to time. I even think that people's first enlightenment began with looking at the stars."

Li Chunfeng said: "Your Majesty, I think this is the first time that someone knows the laws of the changing solar terms and the laws of farming, and that person has power." Li Chengqian didn't know how to refute this. It should be said that there was no way to refute it. In fact, it is very simple for people to gain power. They just need to obtain knowledge that others don't know, and this knowledge is necessary.

Then you will have access to most of the resources and power.

Later, from the perspective of human history, power became increasingly complex and centralized.

It's like a person who knows the weather and the terrain well and can rule a village and teach the people in this village how to farm and reproduce. Then this person becomes the lord of the village. After that, the lord needs soldiers to protect the village.

If the lord wants to educate the village, he needs civil officials.

Gradually, this system began to develop into classes and more complex interest groups, or, under the promise of power, a variety of aristocratic families and clans emerged.

This is the logic of the formation of power as understood by Taoist Master Li. It is an idea that is quite Taoist in style and is deeply rooted in people's hearts.

In fact, Li Chunfeng was a very talented person, and Li Chengqian suddenly felt that talking with him was a very interesting thing.

Next, he was going to Lingyan Pavilion with his father. Li Chengqian was still talking to Li Chunfeng along the way.

Several eunuchs followed beside him. Perhaps the emperor was annoyed by the conversation between His Majesty and the Taoist priest, so his footsteps became faster.

The retired emperor was about to reach the Lingyan Pavilion, but His Majesty was still far behind, talking to Taoist Li. The eunuchs on the side were very anxious, as they didn't know whether they should follow His Majesty or follow the retired emperor in front.

Judging from the situation, the Emperor is probably a little annoyed because Your Majesty is only talking to Taoist Li?
This situation continued until the Lingyan Pavilion. When the two emperors of the Tang Dynasty walked into the Lingyan Pavilion, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Chengqian and Li Chunfeng started their discussion from the emergence of collective concepts in human civilization, and they even almost discussed the final form of human civilization.

This is not surprising. Although Taoist Li is obsessed with astronomy, he is still willing to answer the emperor's humanistic confusions.

In Master Li's discussion, he felt that in the end, human beings might not have a so-called collective, but independent individuals, and there would be no more wars.

Hearing this, Li Chengqian said, "Master Li, I don't think so."

Li Chunfeng said, "I would like to hear the details."

Li Shimin walked up the steps of the Lingyan Pavilion first, enduring the sound of his son talking as he walked.

Li Chengqian listened to his father's footsteps on the wooden stairs and followed his footsteps while saying, "I think the future may not be so beautiful."

Li Chunfeng asked: "Why?"

"Master Li, for thousands of years, people have survived cold winters and hot summers, but the resources they need are increasing. Even now, some people are struggling for warmth, while others are still annexing land."

Li Chunfeng nodded, agreeing quite a bit.

"The future that Taoist Priest Li talked about is too beautiful, but I think the future is dark, because I am an emperor. Looking at the world from the perspective of an emperor, I can sort out resources more clearly. To me, land is a resource, food is a resource, and people are also my resources."

"Looking at the wars between nations, people are fighting to the death for the few resources they have. I think future wars will be even more brutal, and more and more people will die in wars. This is the future I see, a very dark future."

Listening to these words, I could sense a dark and ruthless future in His Majesty's voice.

But the retired emperor still burned incense to Duke Zheng and Duke Liang with a calm expression.

Li Chengqian also took the incense handed over by the eunuch and explained: "It may be because I am the emperor. What I think and worry about is more realistic and cruel. People should think about the good things. It's just some short-sightedness. Taoist Li, please don't misunderstand."

After saying this, Li Chengqian bowed and burned incense toward the portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion.

Among the twenty-five heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion, those who are still alive do not need to burn incense, but incense burners are placed in front of those who have passed away.

In the next few hundred years, the emperor will have greater respect for the Lingyan Pavilion. As long as the emperor keeps doing this, people will strive to ascend the Lingyan Pavilion for the sake of the country.

Li Shimin asked: "Cheng Qian, do you think people are evil?"

Li Chunfeng stepped aside and saluted the two emperors from behind.

Li Chengqian folded his hands and said, "Father, I don't know either. What do you think, Taoist Li?"

People should think better, but after listening to His Majesty's words, Li Chunfeng fell silent. Maybe people are meant to be evil, and maybe the future is meant to be so dark.

Little Sizi walked all the way to Qianqiu Palace, saw Li Miao and said with a smile: "Cong'er."

A six-year-old boy came running over. He was the emperor's youngest son.

Qianqiu Palace is the residence of Princess Anding. Mingda took Li Miao's hand and walked into the palace. Since this palace was given to Que'er, it has become a place for little Mengji and Li Miao to play.

Li Miao said: "Sister, aunt is here."

Little Mengji, who was writing, stepped forward first, took his aunt's hand and said, "Aunt Mingda."

Little Sizi was holding a child in each hand, and seeing that Little Queer was still writing, she said, "I have time to come and see you today."

Li Miao asked, "Aunt is going to Laojun Mountain?"

Little Sizi explained: "Auntie is not going. Taoist Priest Li is going to Laojun Mountain. He said he wants to build a big telescope on Laojun Mountain to see the stars."

Li Miao asked in confusion: "Wouldn't it be closer to the stars if we stood on Laojun Mountain?"

Little Sizi said: "The few hundred feet high we are standing on is nothing. Even if we reach the top of Laojun Mountain, we are still very far away from the starry sky. That little distance is nothing."

Li Miao was wearing loose clothes and had a puzzled look on his fat face.

Little Sizi patiently explained: "If the sky is very high, what we see when we look up is just a small piece of the starry sky. Even if we climb up Laojun Mountain, we can't touch the stars. As for how high it is, even if we climb up Laojun Mountain, it will seem insignificant."

Little Mengji asked, "What did Taoist Li do at Laojun Mountain?"

Little Sizi continued, "The positions of stars will change. If we know when the weather is right, or when a star is closest to us, like when the moon is closest to us, we can calculate the movement patterns of the stars."

Li Miao asked, "Will Taoist Li stay on Laojun Mountain for a long time?"

Xiao Sizi thought for a moment and said, "Well, it may take a long time."

Li Miao said with admiration: "Can I take my aunt as my teacher?"

"Okay."

Xiao Sizi agreed immediately and said, "But if you want to learn well, you must learn numerology from now on."

(End of this chapter)