The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 562: Life's Accidents

Wang Bo said goodbye to Zhang Jianzhi and left Wenlinguan. In addition to giving lectures to teachers who came to teach in the countryside, this academy also gave lectures to children in elementary school.

Wenlinguan is not located in Chang'an city. The academy covers an area of ​​200 acres and there are many students coming and going on weekdays. Therefore, the streets outside Lantian County are very busy, and there are often hawkers selling their wares here.

Tea eggs are still expensive, just not as expensive as before.

Wang Bo walked on the busy street and bought a tea egg for twenty coins.

Compared with the tea eggs that used to cost forty or fifty cents, twenty cents a piece is indeed very cheap.

Tea is still very expensive nowadays, and eggs are all free-range. In the past, Jingzhao Prefecture would have thought about letting people in Guanzhong raise more chickens.

But this matter has come to nothing several times, and now the Jingzhao Prefecture no longer cares about it.

It makes sense. Looking at the entire Guanzhong area, there are millions of people. How many eggs are needed to satisfy Guanzhong's population?

Wang Bo stopped in front of a bookseller's stall again, picked up a book and started flipping through it.

The bookseller smiled and said, “This is the story of Congling, written by the students of Chongwenguan.”

The name of this book is "The Story of Congling". It was written by hundreds of students from Chongwenguan based on the oral accounts of the old soldiers of the Wei Mansion.

It also includes information about the Tianshan War of that year.

Seeing Wang Bo was absorbed in reading, the bookseller asked again, "Do you know what the teachers at Chongwenguan said to the students when they were compiling this book?"

The bookseller said to himself, "The teachers in Chongwenguan all said that people's stories should be written by people themselves. The stories written by the people of the Tang Dynasty are for the people of the Tang Dynasty to read."

"The Turks, the people of the Western Regions, and the Tibetans are all subjects of the Tang Dynasty."

The bookseller became more and more excited as he spoke. He said loudly, "Now Nanzhao and Tubo are both territories of the Tang Dynasty. The current emperor said that he would help the people of Nanzhao to avenge their crimes, and sent a general to lead the people of Nanzhao to attack the Pyu Kingdom."

Wang Bo paid five cents to buy the book. Tea eggs were still as expensive as before, but the price of books was getting cheaper and cheaper.

From the handwriting on the pages of paper, it can be seen that these words are all printed. Now the Guanzhong workshops are using a new method to print books, which makes the price of books cheaper.

Wang Bo walked along the way looking at the book. Judging from the texture of the paper, it should be made from recycled old paper.

Xuan paper is still expensive, and most people choose cheap recycled paper.

The paper made from recycled paper is dark brown, but it is very useful.

The deeds of the Tang people should be written by the Tang people. This sentence touched Wang Bo deeply. For many years, people used to say that the three major ideals of scholars were to win the first place in the imperial examination, marry women from five surnames, and compile national history.

Now the so-called Five Surnames have become a thing of the past, and although not everyone can participate in compiling the national history, can this act of writing deeds be done by everyone as long as Chongwenguan allows it?
In the past, when paper became cheaper, people thought that there would be more and more books.

Now, under the advocacy of Chongwenguan, if more and more people can write books, there will be more books.

What kind of books can be published is entirely decided by Chongwenguan.

Wang Bo stood alone outside the city of Chang'an, and the emperor still held great power.

In the past, if one wanted to write a book, he had to be a famous scholar.

Now, Chongwenguan has given more people the right to write books, and this right rests with Chongwenguan.

Everyone in the court and the country knows that what happens to the Chongwenguan is entirely decided by the current emperor, and the centralized emperor holds all these powers in his hands.

After returning to Chang'an City, Wang Bo and Yang Jiong temporarily lived in Luo Binwang's home.

Luo Binwang's teacher was the censor Li Yifu, so the young men lived as guests in Li Yifu's mansion.

This is the residence arranged by the court for Li Yifu, but Li Yifu is often on the move and rarely comes back to live.
After the cold winter, this year's imperial examination will be here.

This year's imperial examination once again ushered in a grand occasion, making the city of Chang'an crowded again.

As expected, when the results were announced in the summer, Wang Bo passed the exam successfully. A man who was born in the same year as Wang Bo but also passed the exam was called Li Jiao.

When Li Jiao's articles and essays were posted at Zhuque Gate for people to read, Wang Bo realized that there are always people better than him and that the other person's talent is extraordinary.

It is precisely because there are too many talented people in the Tang Dynasty. Wang Bo was originally quite confident in his talent, but there will always be a few rare geniuses.

This year Xuanzang came to Chang'an City again.

This time, Xuanzang was summoned by the emperor.

By the Qujiang Lake, the dusk illuminates the lake and makes the western sky red.

Xuanzang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you still look the same as you did back then. There is no trace of time at all."

Li Chengqian stood by the Qujiang Lake and nodded, "We are all the same. The child also plucked out three or five of my gray hairs before."

Under normal circumstances, Xuanzang would have chanted the Buddha's name at this time.

But now he still stands like this.

"After spring every year, Chongwenguan would always print a new batch of books. Children in the Hexi Corridor needed these books, but they had to wait until autumn to be delivered to the Hexi Corridor."

Xuanzang explained the reason why he returned to Chang'an City, and added: "It only takes a month to go back and forth. I can get these books half a year earlier and give them to the children."

Li Chengqian continued: "If you need anything, please let me know at any time."

Xuanzang whispered, "I won't teach this year."

"Why?"

"I want to go to Tibet to see Songtsen Gampo and Lu Dongzan."

Li Chengqian looked at the surface of Qujiang Lake and said, "The Tibetans are no longer the same now."

Xuanzang bowed and waited until His Majesty nodded before leaving.

The sixteenth year of Qianqing passed peacefully...

Year after year, people have left many vivid memories for the Li Tang dynasty.

In the eighteenth year of Qianqing's reign, Li Chengqian, his father, and Su Tan were fishing by the Kunming Lake.

It was spring, and Shangguan Yi arrived at Kunming Lake sweating profusely.

Li Shimin, with gray hair and beard, glanced at his son and felt that his son had firmly grasped the honest and hardworking Shangguan Yi.

People like Shangguan Yi, as long as they are given enough attention and trust, will become loyal ministers and put themselves aside to consider everything for the country.

Although he was old, Li Shimin felt that his eyes would not misjudge people.

In the future, Shangguan Yi's position in the court will definitely be one of the best.

When the person arrived, Li Chengqian said, "Please take a seat."

A eunuch handed over a Hu stool, and Shangguan Yi respectfully took it and sat aside.

Then Shangguan Yi looked at the retired emperor and Su Tan beside him, took a deep breath, and sat up straight.

Li Chengqian said with his hands in his pockets: "I have heard several times recently that people say that it is time to find a princess for the prince."

Su Tan said: "I think the prince is still young, should we wait another two years?"

Li Chengqian leaned towards his father and asked, "What do you think?" Li Shimin said, "You were over 20 when you got married, and the prince is not even 20 yet, so there is no need to rush."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian nodded in agreement and turned to look at Shangguan Yi behind him.

There was no need to wait for His Majesty to speak. When His Majesty looked at him, he stood up and saluted.

Li Chengqian added: "The fish in Kunming Lake are the most plump and delicious. How can we catch fish without a fishing rod?"

A eunuch immediately handed over a fishing rod. Shangguan Yi took it, sat down upright, and started fishing.

"How is your granddaughter doing?"

Shangguan Yi's expression visibly twitched when he heard the words.

These words were not spoken by Your Majesty, but by the Emperor Emeritus.

"minister……"

Li Shimin coughed twice and said, "I don't have any other intentions. I just think the two children are close, so I asked one more question."

The emperor meant that it was just a casual question, and you can answer it or not.

But would Shangguan Yi dare not say it? Even if he didn't say it, wouldn't His Majesty know?
Shangguan Yi told everyone the latest news about his granddaughter.

Li Chengqian added: "In fact, the Queen Mother is also very satisfied with her."

Shangguan Yi wiped the sweat off his face and said, "How dare I..."

After fishing with the emperor and his family in Kunming Lake, Shangguan Yi first sent the emperor and his family back to the palace before he went home.

When he reached the door of his house, Shangguan Yi was still thinking about the words of His Majesty. It must be said that this was a terrible conversation.

Although the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty have not given a clear decree to have their granddaughter marry into the Eastern Palace, His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus have already asked this question, so how can their granddaughter dare to marry someone else?

Shangguan Yi walked into the house holding his forehead. No wonder he had been feeling uneasy lately.

He also saw his granddaughter holding a book and reading aloud the contents of the book.

However, the prince's marriage would most likely not be arranged too quickly. While feeling uneasy, Shangguan Yi could also breathe a sigh of relief.

In the 20th year of Qianqing's reign, the emperor fell seriously ill and his condition was finally relieved after being treated by Princess Dongyang.

Li Chengqian, who was already middle-aged, sat in front of his father's sickbed.

Li Shimin sat up from the bed and said, "Dongyang said that my health is fine now."

Li Chengqian reminded: "Although it's okay, you still need to take a rest."

"You have been on the throne for twenty years."

Li Chengqian nodded, "Compared with my father, I have not done much in the past twenty years since I ascended the throne. It is far from the glory and brilliance of the twenty years of Zhenguan."

Li Shimin looked at the night outside the window and said, "I fought several battles in the past, which exhausted the Central Plains. Some people say that I have made great contributions, but they have not seen how the people's livelihood in Guanzhong was devastated."

"After that, under your governance, people lived well. You made good use of the people I left behind. You helped me manage the people's exhaustion that I caused."

Li Shimin patted his son's hand and said, "Your mother is right. You are you. You are different from me. I cannot force you to live the way I want you to. You are a child with a strong opinion. People like you must have great ambitions."

The emperor's voice was lowered a lot, and Li Chengqian said: "Father, I want to add a few more people to the Lingyan Pavilion."

Li Shimin asked: "Can I still influence your thoughts?"

By the beginning of the 21st year of the Qianqing reign, people had become accustomed to the peace of this dynasty, and the Tang people became more proud and wealthy.

More and more Tang people who wanted to take risks went out. Under the emperor's will, more people wanted to take risks, and the Tang people went out to spread the Tang people's seeds and books.

This year, the emperor summoned Chu Suiliang and Xu Jingzong.

After a long talk with His Majesty, the two old ministers retired.

Today, Li Chengqian walked towards the Lingyan Pavilion and pushed open the door of the Lingyan Pavilion, where rows of portraits were hung.

Following His Majesty was a team of eunuchs, holding portraits in their hands.

Li Chengqian picked up a scroll of portrait and slowly opened it. It was a portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion. Xu Jingzong in the portrait had no smile and his expression looked very stiff.

In fact, when Xu Jingzong entered the Lingyan Pavilion, he should have laughed with joy, but when he learned that he was retiring, he could not laugh. He sat in front of the Taiji Hall without saying a word.

This was the situation when the painter was painting the portrait of Xu Jingzong.

Li Chengqian said: "It's better not to smile. You don't look good when you smile, Old Xu."

After that, Li Chengqian personally hung up the portrait and said, "You have planned the Western Regions, seized Tubo, and conquered Nanzhao. You, Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites, are qualified to be listed in the Lingyan Pavilion."

After this portrait was hung up, Li Chengqian took another one, which was a portrait of Chu Suiliang.

Chu Suiliang and Xu Jingzong had always been at odds with each other, and the battle between them was almost life-and-death.

"I think it would be too boring if I didn't hang you two together."

After hanging up the portrait of Chu Suiliang, Li Chengqian picked up another one, which was a portrait of Ma Zhou.

The last one is Liang Jianfang.

Ma Zhou also retired this year. In addition to the twenty-four heroes during the Zhenguan period, several more were added during the Qianqing period, including Guo Luotuo, Cen Wenben, Xu Jingzong, Chu Suiliang, Ma Zhou, and Liang Jianfang.

Guo Zhengyi took over as the Minister of Rites, and Xu Yushi took over as the Minister of Revenue.

In addition to these people, there are quite a few appointments that need to be arranged this year.

Duke Ying highly valued Pei Xingjian's talents and wanted to let Pei Xingjian take over the military affairs of the court several times.

However, Duke Ying was also hesitant and wanted to let Xue Rengui and Pei Xingjian jointly take charge of military affairs.

Li Chengqian looked through the memorials one by one, and Du Zhenglun was appointed as the Minister of Personnel.

Shangguan Yi promoted a young man named Liu Hongye out of the ordinary to work in the Censorate. In Shangguan Yi's evaluation, Liu Hongye was a young man with considerable capabilities, who could become a good knife and assisted Li Yifu.

People like him are most suitable to join forces with Li Yifu. One dares to kill, and the other dares to scheme.

The Tang Dynasty still maintained a down-to-earth stage of development, and it still advocated frugality and thrift.

The government's political style remained unchanged, but Li Chengqian heard something.

This story starts with Zhinu’s achievement. Zhinu’s pressure cooker changed its appearance, and there was an extra wheel on top of the pressure cooker.

This wheel looked very strange, and Li Chengqian felt that it was far from the steam engine wheel he had imagined.

There is something wrong with Zhinu's technology tree, as if he chose the wrong development route.

This is not a big deal, just correct him. If you put wheels on a pressure cooker, can it still fly to the sky?

However, what worried Li Chengqian was that his younger brother Shen heard from Zhang Jianzhi that a child named Meng Haoran was born.

Li Chengqian realized belatedly that Meng Haoran's father was a student of Zhang Jianzhi.

(End of this chapter)