On the day of the Spring Society Festival, Chen Cheng packed his bags and prepared to return to Luoyang. Shao Shude saw him off in person.
"Gyeonggi is an important area, but now more and more people are planting fruits, vegetables and flowers." Chen Cheng looked at the densely packed residential buildings around him with some emotion.
In the middle of winter, the farmland is filled with winter vegetables such as turnips, sprouts, and tuna, which looks very spectacular.
There are more people, and each person is assigned less land, but they can still live a life because they no longer grow food, but instead grow higher-value vegetables and fruits, cultivate flowers, and seedlings, and send them to the city for sale.
In short, they make money from this and then buy food to feed their family.
There are even a large number of craftsmen who have no land at all and rely entirely on their crafts to make a living.
This is a sign of peaceful times. But such rapid development is inseparable from the increasing amount of money circulating among the people.
This - is the result His Majesty wants to see, right?
In fact, it has existed in all dynasties, but this dynasty is even more prosperous. His Majesty once said that if you take fifty steps, you can laugh a hundred steps, and if you take fifty steps, you can laugh. Even if there is no fundamental change, as long as there is progress, it is good.
"The world will always change." Shao Shude said: "The ancestors of these people actually farmed the land. But times have changed, many things have changed, and they have also changed."
Chen Cheng nodded and said, "Indeed."
The carriage rumbles forward, and the village seems to be endless. Judging from its shape, the proportion of brick houses has increased significantly. Compared with the days of Huangchao, the adobe houses that could be seen everywhere were much better.
"Actually -" Chen Cheng suddenly said: "The people will not be grateful to Your Majesty."
Shao Shude was silent.
"Their generation has lived a good life, and they certainly remember His Majesty. But after two generations have passed, they will become accustomed to the current life. From now on, if it deteriorates even slightly, they will feel resentful." Chen Cheng suddenly said: "In fact, officials
Same thing."
Shao Shude looked at him deeply and said: "I don't care, this is the truth."
This time it was Chen Cheng's turn to be silent.
It seemed that from the very beginning, he did not understand this king who had served him for almost forty years.
"So I attach great importance to agriculture." Shao Shude continued: "Agriculture is the foundation of the world. Apart from the Jinshi major, the agricultural major recruits the largest number of students. This country is better able to fight against natural and man-made disasters than you think, Chen Qing."
"Your Majesty's plan is far inferior to what I have planned." Chen Cheng sighed.
He now suspected that Song Le might really understand the saint, at least partially.
When he served as the governor of the Zhenwu Army, Song Le overhauled water conservancy in Shengzhou and promoted the three-crop rotation system. During this period, he visited the countryside many times, often staying at farmhouses, and wrote many agricultural poems.
At this time, even as proud as he is, he has to admit that Song Le may be closer to the saint's heart and understand his aspirations and ambitions better.
"After I go back, I will have a good rest and don't worry about anything." Shao Shude didn't want to talk about national affairs anymore, so he said instead: "I will go back to Luoyang in May or June. Between us, the monarch and his ministers, there will still be a long time to come. Let's go together.
There aren’t many old brothers who have come over.”
Chen Cheng was a little sentimental. The past few decades are really nostalgic.
If he could go back in time, he would no longer be obsessed with drunken women, but instead take time out to spend more time with his old brothers.
Some people, when they say goodbye inadvertently, always think that they are still young and there will be a chance to meet again in the future, but in fact it is a farewell forever.
Some people you meet often at first, but gradually, without you realizing it, they have slowly disappeared from your life.
In the dead of night, you suddenly remember that all you heard was a few words on his epitaph. The most terrifying thing is that you are gradually losing his appearance because you are getting older.
Chen Cheng took a deep breath and looked into the distance.
In the bleakness of midwinter, a few children were playing and playing without any worries.
A smile couldn't help but appear on his lips.
If there is a next life, I will still follow His Majesty to make plans.
****
After seeing off Chen Cheng, Shao Shude returned to Chang'an and met the Tibetan envoys at Taiji Hall.
Strange to say, people without the Lu family have a longer journey, but they come faster.
To put it bluntly, it's just a matter of positivity.
"How do people support this place in Zhangxiong?" Shao Shude asked, "Tell me the truth and don't hide anything."
In front of him was a middle-aged man named Wu Lujue.
According to Lianhua, he can be regarded as one of the outstanding figures of Wu Lu's generation, and he has been helping the family fight for power and profit in Luoce. Unfortunately, Wu Lu was rather coy in the beginning, which Yundan didn't like.
After Yun Dan's death, his descendants mostly relied on other families and did not pay special attention to the Wu Lu family. Therefore, their family's position in Luxu was rather embarrassing, neither high nor low. In recent years, there were even signs of being squeezed out.
In fact, the four major black-clothed clans in Tubo are not doing well overall.
There are no immortal dynasties in the world, so how can there be immortal families? Things in the world are impermanent, and there are always ups and downs. We always stare at the glory of those decades, or we can only see the low points of those decades. In fact, it is all too superficial.
Already.
Without the Lu family, there is still a chance for a comeback, but it is not with Luozhe, but with Xiangxiong. This is a relatively vague but firm understanding among the family leaders.
"Reply to Your Majesty." Wu Lujue said: "Yun Dan's origin is unknown. This is a fact known to everyone. As far as local generals and Tu kings are concerned, they are more inclined to the descendants of Er Song."
In fact, from a dialectical perspective, this is not absolute.
Although Zan Pu's bloodline is noble, doesn't a person with unknown origins like Yun Dan also get the support of many nobles? The higher the upper class, the less absolute they are in this matter.
"There are two descendants of Esong. Do they recognize Jide Nyimagon, the descendant of the first concubine, or Tashi Zibabai, the descendant of the second concubine?" Shao Shude asked.
"I can only say that whoever enters Xiangxiong first will be the king." Wu Lujue said.
"First come, first served?" Shao Shude asked.
"Yes." Wu Lujue said without hesitation: "With my help and the help of the Lu family, any descendant of Ersong can stand firm."
"But you can't control the entire Xiangxiong area." Shao Shude said.
"This requires the help of the supreme emperor's reputation."
"Do I also have a reputation among the Tubo people?"
"The Emperor of Tang was a Bodhisattva in Tubo, so how could the Supreme Emperor be weaker than the Emperor of Tang?"
"Oh? Which Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is a Bodhisattva? Can you tell me about it?" Shao Shude asked with great interest.
"During the reign of Chizu Dezan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was mentioned in the court discussion——" Bu Lujue saw that Shao Shude was very interested, so he said: "Some ministers said that Songtsen Gampo's in-laws were Emperor Confucius Chuqiong of the Tang Dynasty.
, it is said that he is also the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva... He has 360 classics and is known as the classic emperor of Han Dynasty.' Zanpu agreed. "
Shao Shude laughed.
Tubo Zanpu considered himself a Bodhisattva, so the Tang Emperor was naturally a Bodhisattva. However, in the Tang Dynasty, only Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had this honor.
Considering the level of superstition of the Tubo people, the ministers have said so. Among ordinary people, anyone who knows about Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty most likely really thinks that he is the incarnation of Bodhisattva - "the incarnation king of Confucius", "the classic emperor", and "the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva"
", these are the three images of Tang Taizong in Tubo.
I saw Shao Shude laughing, but he was very serious even though he didn't sleep in the house. He just heard him say: "The supreme emperor also lives in the classics. He can be called the second classic emperor in Han Dynasty, and Confucius is the incarnation king."
"Confucius becomes the king? I dare not live there." Shao Shude shook his head.
"Does Your Majesty know that the Supreme Emperor also has a title in Tubo?" Wu Lujue asked.
"Tell me and listen." Shao Shude sat down.
Mr. Lu held her several-month-old son in her arms, but her charming eyes kept falling on Shao Shude.
Her husband, Brother Tie, was still here just now, but he has gone back. Now it is time for the "secret operation" between Shao Shude and the Merulu family.
"Zanpu, the descendant of Confucius' incarnation king, is the little incarnation of Confucius."
"The King of Han Dynasty Sheng Ge Zanpu."
Bu Lujue said two titles in one go.
"Shengge means 'lion' in Tubo, right?" Shao Shude asked.
"Exactly." Wu Lujue replied with admiration.
Shao Shude is a little strange, why do so many people like to use "lion" to decorate their king's title?
After defeating the Anxi Uighurs, the Pugu clan of Gaochang Uighurs couldn't wait to call him "Aslan Khan", which means "Lion King".
Ogurchak's elder brother Basil was originally also called the "Lion King", but his younger brother had a lower status and could only be called the "Male Camel King".
But - have you ever seen a lion?
That's all for the Uighurs, why do the Tubo people also respect lions? No one calls themselves "Tiger Khan" or "Tiger King" - well, this Khan's nickname is indeed a bit of a hit.
"The Little Incarnation of Confucius Zanpu was originally spread from Qinghai, and gradually spread to wider areas. Now even the logic is known." Wu Lujue continued: "When ministers discuss matters, they often call His Majesty the 'Little Incarnation of Confucius'.
Zanpu'. The title of 'Lion Zanpu' of Han Dynasty has only been spread in recent years, mainly due to the introduction from Khotan, and now the whole Xiangxiong knows it."
Shao Shude was speechless.
Forget about the little incarnation of Confucius, Zanpu. The title of Zanpu, the Lion of Han Dynasty, is because he defeated the Gaochang Uighurs and the Anxi Uighurs successively. He was the strongest in the Western Regions, so this noble title fell on him - Khotan.
Most people also worship lions. If Li Shengtian had the opportunity, he would never mind calling himself "Aslan Khan", but he would not dare.
Shao Shude said: "If I canonize Wei De as King Xiangxiong, it will be helpful to you. You can be the prime minister for generations without the Lu family. But what can I gain?"
Wu Lujue looked at Lian Hua, his eyes lingering on the child in her arms for a moment.
Lianhua's face suddenly turned red.
"After the death of King Xiangxiong, the successor must be canonized by Zanpu, the lion of Han Dynasty, before he can officially ascend the throne as king." said Mo Lujue.
Shao Shude glanced at Lotus helplessly.
People may not know anything if they haven't slept in the house, but the way you don't admit it makes people suspicious.
"King Xiangxiong needs to leave his heir in the Central Plains as a pledge." Shao Shude said.
Bu Lujue didn't answer immediately.
In fact, this matter is good for their family. Prince Gein stayed in the Central Plains and was unfamiliar with Xiangxiong. Wouldn't he have to rely on local snakes like them?
But Wu Lujue was worried that there would be opposition within the family or even among foreign kings, so he did not answer immediately.
"This matter still needs to be discussed." Wu Lujue said.
"Yes." Shao Shude nodded, and then said: "But you have to hurry up, I don't have that much patience. Let me wait impatiently, Shule, Yutian, Zhongyun, Haixi soldiers and horses all went up the mountain.
It will be ugly then.”
When Bu Lujue heard this, his face looked equally ugly.
It is a well-known fact that Tubo is geographically advantageous. But there are no absolutes in the world. Daxia's strength in the north of Xiangxiong is too strong. It is not difficult to raise 10,000 or 20,000 elite soldiers to go up the mountain. Maybe they cannot occupy Xiangxiong for a long time.
They may even be defeated by Shang Shung's army due to the geographical advantage, but before defeat, God knows what evil they will do.
Xiangxiong’s household registration was not rich, and after being wasted several times, there was nothing left.
"If there is nothing else, the envoy can go back to discuss it as soon as possible. Or, send one or two trusted confidants with letters and return to Xiangxiong or Luozhe quickly to discuss it as soon as possible." Shao Shude said: "I will ask the inns along the way to provide convenience.
Yes, it won’t be applied for too long.”
"According to the order." Wu Lujue replied helplessly.
He had decided to send a few people back quickly and come back after having a clear explanation. During this period, he was waiting for news in the Central Plains and inquired about the situation.
Tubo is really in trouble now, and Daxia is more powerful than the former Tang Dynasty, so we still have to compromise.
No Lujue quickly resigned.
Shao Shude walked up to Lianhua and asked in a low voice: "Did you feel that you were serving the Bodhisattva before?"
Mr. Wu turned his face and said nothing.
Without this reason, would it be so easy to devote myself to you? She thought of that evening in Hezhou, when the saint bathing in the golden sunshine was like a god, and her ears suddenly turned red.
"No wonder it's so tight..." Shao Shude suddenly realized.
