Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 522: The Late Emperor's Funeral, Millions of Subjects, Shocking the Four Directions (Fourth Update)

The first year of Yongwei, August 23rd.

The early sun rises in the east, and the sky is red and purple.

In the city of Chang'an, mourning was everywhere.

Funeral music has begun to sound in the palace.

Today is the day of the funeral of the late Emperor Taizong Wen.

Every soldier in the palace was wearing white linen mourning clothes, and the long spears in their hands were also tied with white belts.

The east side hall of Qianqiu Hall.

Li Chengqian, dressed in raw hemp mourning clothes and a tall crown, half-knelt on the ground and tied a pair of kneepads to Li Xiang's knees with his own hands. Then he raised his head and said with a rare gentle expression, "Be careful with your hands and feet today. Try to avoid small stones and other things. Don't bump into anything, okay?"

"Your son knows." Li Xiang looked at Li Chengqian with a confused look.

Li Chengqian smiled bitterly and said, "Once you've experienced this kind of thing once, you'll know how it feels."

"Your Majesty, please stop being so mysterious." Su Shu looked up from the side. She had already strapped knee pads on Li Jue and Li Yu. She gave Li Chengqian a sullen look before saying to Li Xiang, "Xiang'er, according to funeral rituals, the late emperor's coffin must stop and kowtow at every city gate and bridge. It's a hundred and forty miles from Chang'an to Zhaoling. If you don't prepare, your knees will hurt."

"Oh!" Li Xiang looked up at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian nodded and said with a smile, "When your royal grandmother was sent to Zhaoling Mausoleum, it was because he didn't pay attention that she was in pain for several days before she recovered."

Li Xiang didn't say anything, but just couldn't help laughing.

Li Chengqian patted his forehead, then looked at Su Yi on the side and said, "Mother Yi, you and the children can sit in the carriage today. You don't have to walk. Today, you are more important than me."

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about?" Su Yi couldn't help biting her lip.

Li Chengqian smiled, but his eyes were still full of concern.

Today is his father's funeral, and Su Yi happened to be diagnosed with pregnancy during this period.

In the eyes of some special people, the child in Su Yi's belly was somewhat blessed by the late emperor's special luck.

She is going to Zhaoling with him today. If nothing happens, no one will pay attention to her. But if something happens to her, it will be considered unlucky by people all over the world.

This kind of thing will affect some people's hearts to some extent.

Therefore, Li Chengqian paid close attention.

Li Chengqian looked up and saw that the entire east wing hall was filled with his concubines and children.

"Empress." Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu and said, "There are many people inside and outside today. When you come back, remember to gather them all. Zhang Ananda will help you."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Su Shu nodded seriously. Su Jun and Su Liangsi were both here today, so she had no shortage of people.

Li Chengqian's expression calmed down, and he nodded and said, "Let's go."

"Yes!" Everyone in the hall saluted.

Li Chengqian turned around and walked out of the east side hall.

The side hall was still filled with kings, princesses, princes-in-law, princesses, and their children.

The officials stood a little further back.

Only Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Dou Dan, Li Shenfu and Li Xizhi stood on one side of the coffin.

Seeing Li Chengqian, everyone bowed and said, "Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian nodded and looked outside the hall.

There were all the officials above the ninth rank in Chang'an, as well as retired ministers like Wei Zheng, Xiao Yu, and Gao Shilian, as well as foreign envoys and even a large number of ladies from other dynasties. The dense crowds of people spread out and were almost invisible.

"Is everyone here?" Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji opposite him.

"Everyone is here." Changsun Wuji nodded, then looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, we may begin."

Li Chengqian nodded to Changsun Wuji, who immediately turned sideways.

Zhao Yuankai, the Minister of Rites, who was not far away, knocked heavily on the bell.

After nine consecutive bell sounds, the clear and crisp bell sounds were immediately heard outside the palace.

The funeral of Emperor Taizong officially began.

……

Funeral music played and fragrance lingered in the air.

Xuanzang, dressed in a golden-red monk's robe, bowed earnestly to Li Chengqian, then handed three volumes of scriptures to him, clasping his hands together and saying, "Your Majesty, this is the Yogacarabhumi Sutra that I translated myself. It will accompany the late emperor and protect the netherworld."

The Yogacarabhumi Sutra, the fundamental treatise of the Yogacara and Consciousness-Only schools and the Dharmalaksana school of Mahayana Buddhism, is an important scripture taken by Xuanzang during his journey to the West.

Some people even say that this book is a scripture dictated by Maitreya Bodhisattva and passed down from generation to generation.

"Thank you, Master!" Li Chengqian solemnly took the "Yoga Sūtra", then turned around and put it into the coffin beside him.

Taoist Master Yin Wencao, dressed in a purple Taoist robe, stepped forward, handed a handwritten copy of the Tao Te Ching to Li Chengqian, then bowed and retreated.

Li Chengqian nodded gently to Yin Wencao.

Compared with Xuanzang, this is not the first time that Master Yin Wencao has done this.

The Tao Te Ching is the fundamental scripture of Louguan Taoism.

Li Chengqian turned around and placed the "Tao Te Ching" into the coffin with his own hands, then slowly stood up.

Zhangsun Wuji, who was standing behind Li Chengqian, handed him a scroll and whispered, "Your Majesty, this is the late emperor's favorite, 'Preface to the Lanting Collection.'"

Li Chengqian turned and looked at Changsun Wuji. Changsun Wuji raised his head slightly with a questioning look in his eyes.

Li Chengqian nodded calmly, then turned around and put the "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" into the coffin without any reluctance.

He had no particular fondness for these calligraphy and paintings.

Compared with using "Preface to the Lanting Poems" to buy the hearts of a few literati, it would be better to put it in the coffin of the late emperor as a burial object and send it to the underground to show filial piety, which would be more beneficial to his governance of the world.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes, then took three steps back, his lips trembling slightly.

Changsun Wuji immediately shouted, "Close the coffin!"

With a "creak", the emperor's coffin was slowly closed.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the coffin being nailed shut. Tears couldn't help but flow down his face.

"The late emperor!" A loud cry of pain rang out behind him, echoing throughout the entire palace.

... Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, Zhang Shigui, Chang He, Zhishisili, Qibi Heli, Ashina She'er, Qian Jiulong and Fan Xing and other 16 generals of the guards were all dressed in black clothes and black armor, riding black tall horses, with white belts tied around their heads, holding Qianniu swords in their hands, and walking in the front.

Behind him were Zheng Rentai, Li Anyan, Chai Zhewei, Li Keshi, Li Xiaotong, Li Mengchang, Du Junchuo, Gongsun Wuda, Zuo Kuangzheng, Liang Jianfang, Xue Gu Wu Ren, Tian Renhui and other sixteen generals of the guards, who also rode tall black horses, with white sashes tied around their heads and held long spears tied with white ribbons.

Following closely behind were dozens of Generals of the Sixteen Guards, including Sun Wukai, Xue Rengui, Li Xuansi, Qiu Shenji, Yin Yuan, Xin Liaoer, etc., holding long spears and walking behind.

Behind them were thirty-six mourners, pulling Emperor Taizong's hearse and slowly walking out of the Suzaku Gate.

Li Chengqian was dressed in raw hemp mourning clothes and followed the hearse, holding the spirit tablet of Emperor Taizong Wen in his hand, walking slowly step by step.

Further behind them were Su Shu, Crown Prince Li Xiang, as well as the kings, princesses, princesses, and princes-in-law, all following on foot.

As they walked, they all bowed their heads and cried bitterly.

The late emperor's coffin will pass through the Vermillion Bird Gate, then walk along Vermillion Bird Street from the Vermillion Bird Gate, exit the Mingde Gate, and reach Zhaoling Mausoleum, 140 miles away.

From Zhuque Gate to Mingde Gate, on the entire Zhuque Street, Li Chengqian, the princes and princesses, and even all the ministers in the court had to walk.

Only Su Yi, Wei Zheng, Gao Shilian, Xiao Yu, and those royal family members who were two or three years old were allowed to ride in the carriage.

After leaving the Suzaku Gate, loud crying sounds suddenly came from both sides of Suzaku Street.

It seemed like in an instant, nearly one million people in the entire Chang'an City were crying.

In fact, this is indeed the case.

Heaven and earth share the same sorrow.

Ashina Helu walked in from the Suzaku Gate, crossed the Suzaku Bridge, and entered Suzaku Street. Looking at the dense crowds of people on both sides of the long street, he even felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.

The population of Chang'an alone reached half of the entire Western Turkestan.

Not to mention magnificent cities like Chang'an, the Tang Dynasty also had Luoyang.

The world's total population is about 20 to 30 million.

However, even so, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty still felt that the world's population was insufficient, and he wanted to reach the population of 60 million in the early Sui Dynasty.

This is simply unimaginable.

Ashina Helu's gaze fell on Li Chengqian, who was walking and crying in the distance.

It was really hard for him to imagine that the emperor could control such a huge empire in one hand. It was really amazing.

Helu has been in Chang'an for quite some time. The entire city of Chang'an, from officials to common people, has great respect for the emperor.

Helu knew that many of these were the result of the emperor having been on the throne for a year.

Moreover, during this year, the late emperor was in charge of the harem.

Although the late emperor has passed away, the emperor still firmly controls the world.

Helu's gaze fell on the sixteen generals, generals, and lieutenant generals in front of him. Each of these people was a veteran of fighting on the battlefield.

Not to mention, there are real famous generals such as Li Ji and Li Daozon standing among the kings and ministers.

Even the Shangshu Zuo Pushe and Sikong Changsun Wuji had followed the late emperor in his military campaigns for many years.

There were also many brave generals such as Li Jing, Guo Xiaoke, Li Junxian, Niu Jinda, Su Dingfang and others guarding the four corners of the world.

The younger generation in the Tang Dynasty is also full of talents.

Helu really doubted whether the Western Turkic Khans before him had lost their minds?
Faced with such a powerful Tang Dynasty, they dared to rebel, and even did so when the Khan was still alive. They were really crazy.

Helu lowered his head slightly, his breathing became heavy, everything was not that easy.

But not everything is completely impossible.

The emperor has only just ascended the throne, and only with the help of the prestige of the previous emperor can the world be stable.

If he wants to truly secure his throne, he still needs to see what happens.

If things are handled properly, then naturally the people of the world will be allied with you, but if things are handled improperly, then the world will be in chaos and war will break out everywhere.

Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty is an example.

In addition, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, Zhang Shigui, Li Jing, Li Ji, and Changsun Wuji are all old. Once they all die, the power the emperor can rely on will drop sharply.

No hurry, no hurry.

Helu has enough patience.

His eyes fell on the Tibetan envoy in front of him, and he couldn't help shaking his head in his heart.

The Tibetan king was in poor health. Although news of his whereabouts could not reach the Tang Dynasty due to lack of information, it did not mean that his whereabouts could not reach the Western Turkestan.

Therefore, the Tibetans could not use it for a long time.

As for the Goguryeo envoys behind him, he hoped that they could inflict a severe defeat on the Tang Dynasty in the severe cold weather in the northeast.

Only when the aura of the Tang Dynasty's invincibility is completely crushed will the four corners of the world join hands to destroy the Tang Dynasty.

Certainly.

Ashina Helu gritted his teeth.

……

Outside Mingde Gate, Ashina Helu was completely stunned when he saw the countless armored cavalry extending eastward from Mingde Gate.

After passing through Mingde Gate, the late emperor’s coffin headed eastward.

Outside Mingde Gate, every three meters, there were two black-armored cavalrymen on horseback, holding long spears and escorting with their heads bowed.

From Mingde Gate, across the Wei River, all the way to Zhaoling Mausoleum, 140 miles away, similarly, every three meters, there were two black-armored cavalrymen on horseback, holding spears to escort.

Helu stood at the foot of Jiuyi Mountain and looked back to the south.

A clearly visible black line extends from Jiuyi Mountain to the entire Chang'an City.

One hundred and forty miles
This scene made Helu's scalp tingle.

Not only him, but also the envoys from Tubo, Goguryeo, and other countries from all over the world, and even the Eastern Turks, Tuyuhun, Dangxiang chieftains, etc., all felt their scalps tingling and their bodies shivering. They lay on the ground in submission, trembling, and did not dare to have any disloyalty.

Datang, Datang.

The Tang Dynasty will always be the most powerful and invincible one in the world.

(End of this chapter)