The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 505 Who said it was insignificant?
Xiao Sizi saw more eunuchs and palace maids leaving in a hurry, most of them were busy with the New Year's banquet.

The New Year's banquet was held in the imperial city outside Chengtian Gate. After the emperor and his family offered sacrifices in Lingyan Pavilion, they would celebrate the New Year with all the ministers.

The father and son and Taoist Li were walking towards Chengtian Gate. Usually this kind of celebration was hosted by the emperor. Whenever the emperor and the old general got together, it was always the most lively. Li Chengqian thought to himself that, in comparison, he was a little alienated from the civil and military officials.

A banquet had been set up in front of Chengtian Gate. There was still some unmelted snow on the city wall, and the wind was still cold. A eunuch was loudly reciting the edict of the eleventh year of Qianqing on the city wall.

Before he knew it, he had been in power for eleven years. During these eleven years, there had been no large-scale wars in the Tang Dynasty. The only two large-scale wars were the encounter with the Arabs in the Congling Mountains on the Pamir Plateau, and the war between Wang Xuance and the Indian rebel Alona Shun.

Apart from these two times, everything has been peaceful and stable for Qianqing over the past ten years.

When the emperor and his family arrived at Chengtian Gate, civil and military officials saluted one after another. Many of those who came to congratulate them were retired officials.

Duke Ying was still standing at the front and back of the generals. Standing beside him was General Lu Cheng Yaojin, and behind him were a group of generals.

When Li Chengqian sat down, he saw Gongsun Wuda standing in the team of generals. Also present at the banquet were Li Simo and Ashina She'er, whom he had not seen for many years.

Ashina She'er's temples were already grey, as was his beard. He poured wine into his mouth and chatted with Jin Chunqiu with a smile.

Li Chengqian picked up the wine bowl and said loudly: "I congratulate you all!"

"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"

The officials on both sides of the civil and military sides shouted in unison, "Long live the Tang Dynasty!"

Including Xu Jingzong, Yu Zhining, and many clerks in the rear of Chu Suiliang also stood up.

At this time, there were quite a few people outside the Suzaku Gate. They all wanted to see the Tang Emperor who was celebrating the New Year. What was even more rare was that they could see two emperors this year.

A child was sitting on his father's shoulders. He looked up into the Suzaku Gate and saw the figure on the high platform. He said, "Daddy, I know this emperor."

The father smiled and asked, "How do you know him?"

"He looks like the grandfather that Dad used to fish with."

From such a distance, she couldn't see the figure on the platform clearly, so she thought the child had seen it wrong and left with her son.

As the drums sounded to signal the start of the banquet, more and more people came to watch. Luo Binwang squeezed out of the crowd and said, "Yang Jiong, there are too many people. I can't see what's inside."

Yang Jiong looked helpless and somewhat unwilling, and said, "It seems there is no other way."

As they walked along Suzaku Street, Yang Jiong asked again, "Is your teacher not back yet?"

Luo Binwang shook his head and said, "Not yet."

"Some people say your teacher works for the emperor."

Luo Binwang is now fifteen years old. This time, his teacher was ordered by the emperor to inspect the canal and has not returned yet.

Luo Binwang could also understand the implication of what Yang Jiong said. This was a rumor in Chang'an City that Li Yifu from the Censorate went out this time to catch insects and kill people for the emperor.

I don’t know where this rumor came from, but the current emperor likes to catch insects.

Yang Jiong said: "Let's go to Chongwen Hall."

Luo Binwang asked doubtfully, "Are you going to look for Lu Zhaolin?"

Yang Jiong nodded and said, "Master Lu's classes are getting fewer and fewer. I heard that Master Lu might be an official in the court next year, so he won't be able to teach in Chongwen Hall anymore."

Luo Binwang said: "I would rather go to Wenlin Pavilion."

"You can only attend classes at Wenlin Hall after you pass the imperial examination. Forget about it now."

"As long as we go to teach, we can also go to Wenlin Hall to listen to classes." Luo Binwang's eyes were full of fighting spirit, and he said: "I must pass the Chongwen Hall exam this year, so that I can become a teacher who teaches."

Yang Jiong said: "I plan to go study abroad first."

The trend of traveling for study probably started in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. In fact, it was during the Zhenguan period that the trend began to revive. Most of those who were able to travel for study were children of high-ranking families or aristocratic families, like Master Lu Zhaolin.

If children from ordinary families want to travel around the world to study, they still have to consider whether they will starve to death along the way, let alone visit famous people all over the world.

Since the rise of remote teaching during the Tang Dynasty, the trend of studying abroad has been replaced by the trend of remote teaching. As long as students participate in the Chongwenguan remote teaching program, they can go to various places to teach, which has become a form of study abroad.

The vast majority of young officials recruited in the court had experience in teaching in remote areas, so they had common topics to talk about.

Teaching in remote areas replaced studying abroad. Compared with the high cost and risk of studying abroad, students who participated in teaching in remote areas could not only receive protection from the government, but also receive monthly wages. They could also become officials after returning. The government solved their worries, so teaching in remote areas naturally replaced studying abroad.

Luo Binwang felt that it was inappropriate for Yang Jiong to spend his studying abroad in the style of medieval times.

Besides, how many celebrities are still alive today?

Mr. Gu Nalu, a great Confucian scholar from Dongyi, passed away two years ago.

As for how many of today's celebrities are just seeking fame and reputation, if Yang Jiong had studied under those celebrities, would he have been led astray and embarked on a path of opposing the Tang Dynasty?

In other words, remote teaching is eliminating the likes of celebrities.

Luo Binwang then said, "I think you should go and teach."

Yang Jiong said: "I will record everything I see and hear during my study tour. If I am the last person to study, then the book I record will be the last book for the students who study abroad."

Luo Binwang was not interested in Yang Jiong's extremely romantic idea. He still looked towards the Suzaku Gate, wanting to see the current emperor.

Yang Jiong's family background was actually quite good; he was a descendant of a famous Yin family in Guanzhong. Since he returned to Guanzhong, he no longer had to worry about food, clothing, housing and transportation.

Luo Binwang whispered: "When I followed my teacher to various places, the emperor killed too many people, and there were some anti-Tang voices."

Yang Jiong asked: "What do you mean by anti-Tang?"

Luo Binwang said: "Some people want to rebel against the Tang Dynasty under various pretexts, and some even hope that the emperor will restore the Nine-Rank System. If you are studying abroad, you must be careful of these people. If you rebel against the Tang Dynasty in the future, I will definitely kill you."

Hearing the other party's very serious words, Yang Jiong subconsciously shrank his nose and whispered: "I only like poetry and prose."

Luo Binwang still warned: "Be careful."

"I have no intention of pursuing a career in politics."

Yang Jiong was indeed not a person who could achieve success in his official career. He was a romantic person who loved poetry and literature. In his eyes, the world should be beautiful.

Therefore, he would not take the path of opposing the Tang Dynasty. Luo Binwang said: "Those who want you to join the anti-Tang movement, I'm afraid they really don't want to oppose the Tang Dynasty, but to use their reputation to achieve their own interests. If they really oppose the Tang Dynasty, your majesty and the court may look up to them a little bit."

In Yang Jiong's opinion, Luo Binwang was indeed a smart man, who could clearly understand the nature of those so-called "anti-Tang" people.

Besides, the world is now at peace, the foundation of the Li Tang Dynasty has long been solid, and the people of the world are loyal to it. Groups of students have gone to more remote places to teach with the emperor's order.

No one in this world would rebel.

Inside the imperial city, the banquet was still going on. Li Chengqian was eating the oranges sent from Lingnan while listening to everyone's conversation.

The old general Gongsun Wuda said how he didn't recognize Chang'an anymore, "Old thief Changsun, I'm walking on Zhuque Street now, looking at those people, they all want my money."

Changsun Wuji replied: "Chang'an is very safe now, and they won't rob you of your money."

Gongsun Wuda shook his head. "If someone robs my money, I'm not afraid. What I'm afraid of is those merchants who laugh when they see me. Their laughter is very creepy!"

Chang Sun Wuji said: "Since I didn't steal your money, what are you worried about?"

"I am getting scared by being watched. Why don't you ask His Majesty for an order and I will go to guard the Hexi Corridor and take my whole family to live at the border."

Chang Sun Wuji said with a straight face: "I am old now."

Gongsun Wuda said: "You are His Majesty's uncle!"

"This old man..." Changsun Wuji hesitated and said, "Go and ask His Majesty for orders yourself."

"Zhangye and Guzang City need garrisons, and we are in need of a great general to guard them."

Yu Zhining's voice came from behind.

Gongsun Wuda retired after returning to Chang'an City and never attended court. The man in front of him was Yu Zhining, who was now famous in the court. He immediately asked, "Can I really guard the Hexi Corridor?"

"Of course." Yu Zhining said, and bowed to Duke Zhao again.

Changsun Wuji had long since stopped wanting to get involved in court affairs. Due to their old friendship, it was normal for these old men to come and beg him for help. However, in recent years, more and more people wanted to establish relationships with him.

I didn't think these old guys were that troublesome before, but I don't know why the older they get, the more trouble they cause. I didn't see all these troubles when I was working in the court, but now that they are all retired, they are more troublesome than the other.

Changsun Wuji somewhat understood why Wang Gui wanted to go to Mount Zhongnan before his death. If he could go to a secluded place and live in seclusion in Mount Zhongnan without being disturbed by these old things, what a leisurely and comfortable life that would be, even if he was running around like a savage in the mountains.

The drums sounded again. People looked up when they heard the familiar drum sound. It was the music of breaking the formation.

There were waves of celebrations in the imperial city.

Li Chengqian glanced at his father who was drinking and his face was still a little red. He said, "Father, if I walk among the people more often, I will also gain more people's support."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Haven't you always been like this? When you were still the crown prince, you walked around the countryside yourself."

"Well, what I mean is that Father can also wear the emperor's clothes and walk in front of people."

"You are the emperor. I am no longer the emperor. I am old."

Li Chengqian personally poured wine for his father and said, "Your Majesty should drink less."

Li Shimin snorted coldly: "I am in good health."

The drinking was in full swing, and there was no way to persuade his father at this time, so Li Chengqian stopped trying to persuade him. Instead, he watched the laughter and noise of the civil and military officials in the court, and immersed himself in it.

The banquet lasted from morning to evening. No one knew when the emperor and his family had left, but people were still celebrating.

Li Tai sat down next to his uncle and said, "The Comprehensive Geography is about to be completed."

Zhang Sun Wuji whispered, "In fact, Your Highness the Prince of Wei can wait a few more years."

Li Tai stroked his beard and said, "Uncle, Qingque doesn't think that the current Comprehensive Geography is perfect. The current Comprehensive Geography has a total of 231 volumes, which include astronomy and geography, as well as water, soil and humanities. After compiling the Comprehensive Geography, Qingque will continue to compile books. The Comprehensive Geography is not perfect, but Qingque thinks that future generations will complete it time and time again, but Qingque plans to stop here."

As he spoke, Li Tai recalled a little and continued, "Some students have found some remains in the strata. Some of the remains are very large, but there are not many records of them in our classics. Some are just some legends."

Changsun Wuji nodded secretly, and he could roughly guess what the King of Wei meant. In the future, the King of Wei might no longer compile the Comprehensive Geography, but would study those rare remains.

Li Tai smiled and said, "The age of the land is very long, so long that the traces left by people on the land seem insignificant. That will be a very meaningful thing. We need to calculate the age of the land."

Zhangsun Wuji and Gongsun Wuda both thought that the King of Wei was drunk. How could anyone in this world think of calculating the age of land? Shouldn't land exist normally? Shouldn't land always be under our feet?

Finally, Li Tai fell drunk and left with the help of his guards.

An eunuch came to read the imperial edict, informing the court officials to continue to rest and that the court would resume after the Lantern Festival.

After receiving the order, everyone left in twos and threes.

After everyone left, Changsun Wuji fell at the end of the team and met Li Chunfeng who was also leaving.

Chang Sun Wuji asked, "I heard that Taoist Priest Li is going to Laojun Mountain?"

Li Chunfeng said: "We will have to stay in Laojun Mountain for several years. I am afraid we will never meet again in this lifetime."

"You can just say you won't come back."

"That's exactly what I want to do. If the rooftop terrace of Laojun Mountain is built, I can stay on the mountain for the rest of my life. Sleeping under the starry sky for the rest of my life is truly a great thing in this world."

Chang Sun Wuji asked, "The King of Wei said that land has an age."

Li Chunfeng thought for a moment and said, "Land must have an age, and even the stars have an age. A person's life is insignificant to the stars."

"The King of Wei said that the age of land is insignificant to people."

Li Chunfeng smiled and said, "My ambition is the same as King Wei's. King Wei looks at the earth, while I look at the sky."

Chang Sun Wuji looked down at the road beneath his feet, then looked up at the starry sky, and said, "The Comprehensive Geography is finally going to be completed. It's been more than 20 years."

As he spoke, Changsun Wuji even felt his nose getting sore. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei had finally let it go. If Wang Gui, who had passed away many years ago, could see this in heaven, he would probably be relieved. This was what Wang Gui wanted to see.

Mount Zhongnan is just a thought. The Mount Zhongnan in his heart is also another mountain in people’s hearts.

"Master Li, you all say that time is long, but I think that in this lifetime, who dares to say that life is insignificant?"

(End of this chapter)