Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 220 It's Time to Cheer Up
In the summer of the second year of Yong'an, Li Shuang returned to Chang'an, the city he was most loyal to.

A brand new city located south of Longshou Plain!

The city had a circumference of twenty-four li, was square, and had four gates on its outer wall.

The outer city walls were made of rammed earth, while the outer walls of the Tang State Duke's Mansion and the Grand Chancellor's Mansion were made of piled stone bricks.

The Tang State Duke's Mansion and the Grand Chancellor's Mansion were located in the north and south of the city, respectively, and twelve large neighborhoods were built around them to house Li Shuang's troops.

As more and more talented people entered Luoyang, many small neighborhoods were built around Chang'an City to house various artisans.

In addition, buildings such as the Encouragement of Learning Archway and the Star-Gazing Platform were constructed in the south of the city.

At this time, the economic center of Guanzhong was still in Beiyi, Chang'an. Chang'an was more like a city serving military purposes, with a series of military facilities built on the city walls, such as drawbridges, gate towers, arrow towers, gate towers, corner towers, and watchtowers. Outside the four gates, there were barbicans.

Li Shuang ordered his men to distribute the saplings and seeds brought from Luoyang to the imperial gardens of Chang'an, establishing various orchards and nurseries to meet the city's needs. He also encouraged silkworm rearing and mulberry cultivation for silk weaving.

Dugu Ru and her female relatives moved into the Tang State Duke's Mansion in Chang'an City a day earlier.

Although this Duke's mansion is called a mansion, it is actually a small city within a city, with all kinds of facilities. The supplies stored in the mansion's treasury are enough to allow 10,000 troops to hold out for more than a year even if the outer city falls.

After Li Shuang returned to Chang'an, he did not immediately meet with Dugu Ru and the other women.

After settling the troops, Li Shuang went to the Star Observatory in the south of the city.

At this moment, Li Daoyuan was deep in thought, looking at the familiar armillary sphere that had just been set up.

Li Shuang once summoned the Li clan to Chang'an, but Li Daoyuan initially refused. It wasn't until the Hebei Incident, when officials were executed, that Li Daoyuan finally came.

"how?"

Li Daoyuan was nearly sixty years old, but because he had spent many years observing the mountains and rivers of various places, traveling long distances and enduring hardships, he had developed a good physique.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Li Daoyuan turned to look at Li Shuang.

This Duke of Tang left him with very mixed feelings!

"You've brought the armillary sphere from Luoyang, what else haven't you brought back?"

Li Daoyuan originally intended to make a few sarcastic remarks, but the words that came out of his mouth carried a touch of desolation, more like a sigh.

"There are also a large number of classic books that I am preparing to put in the library. Shan Chang, you can go and take a look and help me fill in any gaps."

Li Daoyuan's expression finally changed.

There are some things that Li Daoyuan doesn't care about. But there are some things that he cares about quite a bit.

Those ancient books in Luoyang are examples!
This represents the most fundamental aspect of a country.

When the Five Barbarian Tribes invaded China, the lands of the Northern Dynasties were reduced to wasteland.

Many aristocratic families migrated south with their books. Although the Southern Dynasties were weak and confined to a corner of the country, they still preserved a large number of books. This was something that the nomadic regimes that only knew how to fight, seize cities, grain, and women could not match.

The people of the Southern Dynasties said that the people of the Northern Dynasties were all barbarians, and this was not just a casual remark.

Why is the Li family of Longxi so revered?

During the chaotic and bleak period of the Five Barbarian Invasions, Emperor Taizu of Western Liang, Li Gao, recruited talents, established state and county schools, collected classic texts, and brought peace to the region, making Liangzhou a culturally prosperous and tranquil place.

Later, the preserved classics were sent to the Northern Wei Dynasty, which was almost devoid of culture, laying the foundation for the prosperity of the Northern Wei.

Li Daoyuan laughed, somewhat incredulous.

"You really moved Luoyang here?"

Different people see Luoyang differently.

In Erzhu Rong's eyes, Luoyang was the economic hub that could control the Northern Dynasties.

In the eyes of the northern warriors, Luoyang was the place with money, food, and beautiful women.

In the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, Luoyang was the place at the very pinnacle of the entire Northern Dynasty's order.

But in Li Daoyuan's mind, these classic texts truly represented Luoyang!

"Why don't you go and see for yourself, Mr. Shan!"

Li Shuang smiled, but Li Daoyuan still had some doubts. He walked quickly, not on horseback, but almost running, to the library built next to the Star-Picking Platform.

At this moment, a large number of books were being moved into the library. Li Daoyuan, seemingly in a trance, flipped through these books amidst the strange gazes of others. Finally, he plopped down on the steps, laughing loudly to the sky.

"Luoyang is still here! Luoyang is still here!"

Etiquette, regulations, history, agriculture, medicine, divination, geography, hydrology, craftsmanship... these are the things recorded in the classics that Li Daoyuan truly cared about.

When Li Daoyuan saw Li Shuang approaching, he stood up and bowed respectfully.

"On behalf of all the people of the world, I thank the Duke of Tang!"
-
Henan.

After Yuan Hao was defeated and lost Ye City, he came to seek refuge with his brother-in-law, Li Shengui.

Empress Hu died, Hu Xuanhui became a monk, and Li Shenggui was depressed for a long time, even losing some weight.

When Yuan Hao met Li Shenggui, it happened to be the time when Li Shenggui was about to emerge from his depression.

"Duke of Chenliu, you must pull yourself together!"

Originally, Yuan Hao had no ambition; his greatest ambition was simply to secure a way out for himself in the Southern Dynasty. If he couldn't make it in the Northern Dynasty, he would go south.

In fact, although the Northern Wei and Southern Liang fought fiercely, there were frequent exchanges between their high-ranking officials.

The Yuan clan of the Northern Dynasties often fled to the south after failed coups, and former members of the Southern Dynasties also frequently fled to the Northern Dynasties.

Putting aside other matters, when Xiao Zan defected to the Northern Wei, he held a funeral for Emperor Xiao Baojuan of Qi in Jinling, and Empress Hu personally attended to offer condolences.

The reason for this is that, regardless of whether it's the North or the South, they are all vying for the position of legitimate successor. What could be more indicative of someone being a fraud than the other side's high-ranking officials coming to pledge allegiance to you?

Yuan Ziyou's ascension to the throne ignited Yuan Hao's ambition.

After Yuan Xu died, the direct line of the Northern Wei dynasty was effectively severed.

In this way, which of the Yuan princes outside wouldn't be qualified to ascend the throne?

"Yes, I need to pull myself together!"

Yuan Hao was very pleased to see Li Shengui like this and held his shoulder.

"The Duke of Chenliu has gathered troops from Henan. I will then go to Liang to borrow troops. At that time, we will head north to Luoyang, eliminate the false emperor Yuan Ziyou, and share the throne with the Duke of Chenliu!"

Yuan Hao spoke with great enthusiasm, but Li Shengui was not interested at all.

"Are you stupid?!"

Yuan Hao was taken aback, but then he heard Li Shen's words:

"Can you defeat Erzhu Rong, or can I defeat Erzhu Rong? If we lead our troops to Luoyang, wouldn't that be like throwing an egg against a rock?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hao nearly choked on his breath.

"Now is the perfect opportunity! If you don't act now, once Erzhu Rong has pacified the Six Garrisons of Hebei, he won't let you off the hook either!"

Li Shenggui waved his hand dismissively.

"I'm afraid of some bastard like him. Let him come if he wants!"

Just as Yuan Hao looked on with anticipation, Li Shen said:

"At worst, we'll go to Liang!"

"..."

"I don't believe it. No matter how powerful Erzhu Rong's cavalry is, they can't defeat the Liang Kingdom's navy."

Yuan Hao was speechless.

"Then what did you mean by 'cheer up'?"

"The person is gone, and no amount of heartache can bring them back. It's time to go to the dance hall to listen to music!"

……

(End of this chapter)