In the summer of the eighteenth year of the Apocalypse, Zhao Si, who had been on an expedition for two years, finally set out to return to the Central Plains.
When he came, he went to Xi'an, Hexi, Juyanhai, Jinshan, Luntai, Suiye Xianxian. When he went back, he went to Shule, Wensu, Gumo, Qiuci, Gaochang, Yinwu, and again.
From Pulei Grassland, go to the east of Jinshan, go straight to Helin City, then go to Yunzhong, Datong, and Hedong.
In addition to the three princes and the large entourage, there was also an old man accompanying him, who was the white-robed Taoist priest who preached at Xuantian Temple in Puhua City that night.
He was still wearing a white robe, with his hair tied up in a simple bun with a wooden stick stuck in it. His beard and hair were white, but his face was red, and he was very calm while riding on the horse.
"Old immortal, the matter of educating the people of the new land is entrusted to the Tao of Heaven and Earth." Zhao Si said.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the duty of ministers to have compassion for heaven and earth, educate all people, and encourage good and avoid evil." The old Taoist priest replied respectfully.
He is Guo Lingbao, the leader of the Taoist Jingtian Sect and the chairman of the Song Dynasty Taoist Patriotic and People-Friendly Federation. Logically speaking, he is qualified to wear the purple Taoist robe given by the emperor, but he has always insisted on wearing only white robes.
"The old immortal has read a lot of books. He combines the strengths of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. He can observe Yin and Yang and understand the secrets of heaven. I am really lucky to have the opportunity to go to Jinshan with the old immortal this time. I have many doubts and I want to ask the real person for advice."
"The officials have great talents and strategies, and they have a thorough understanding of the world. I have only been foolish for a long time, and I would never dare to talk nonsense in front of the emperor." Guo Lingbao said modestly.
"I have been struggling to find a way to govern the country. I just want to make the Song Dynasty prosperous and powerful and make the people rich and safe. Please give me some advice."
Guo Lingbao replied: "I am an outsider and do not know the strategy of governing the country. I just read the history books and try to figure out the sages, and I realized that respecting heaven and loving the people is the foundation of benevolent government."
"Respect God and love the people?"
"The officials are the common masters of the world. They have the virtues of Shun and Yao, are sagely wise, open-minded and magnanimous. They are the sages who reign. If we continue to respect heaven and love the people, we will surely achieve the highest level of sage virtue and upright ethics."
Zhao Si glanced at Guo Lingbao and nodded calmly.
Guo Lingbao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Even though his state of mind had been cultivated to an almost otherworldly state, he still had troubles when facing His Majesty the Emperor.
From ancient times to the present, there has never been an emperor whose will can spread thousands of miles and affect hundreds of millions of people. Under the endless power, even if Guo Lingbao is about to cultivate and become a real person on land, he can still feel the brilliant power of heaven.
"A real person living a long life?"
"I am eighty-one years old."
"Eighty-one years old? It's really rare to still be so healthy and strong, and not tired from traveling thousands of miles."
"I have a pure heart and few desires. I often meditate and contemplate the mysteries of heaven and earth. Therefore, my blood is peaceful, but my illness and longevity are long."
"A real person can be pure of heart and have few desires, but I can't. The rise and fall of all peoples in the world are often determined by my thoughts. I dare not slack off at all, walking on thin ice. I can't be as free and easy as a real person. I just think quietly and reflect, and appreciate the natural laws of heaven and earth.
, but it is possible. Real person, to tell you the truth, I don’t like staying in the Kaifeng Palace, as if I was locked up in a cage."
"I like to go to the sea, grasslands, and mountains. I especially like to walk on the wild grasslands under the starry sky. Suddenly, you are the only one in the world. At that moment, the world and the people become one."
"Your Majesty is indeed a man of great wisdom..." Guo Lingbao praised.
"Father!" Zhao Kuo's three princes galloped to catch up.
"Come and meet the real person Lingbao." Zhao Si greeted.
"I have met the real person Lingbao."
Guo Lingbao chuckled, stroking his beard and said: "Infinite Heavenly Lord, the three princes are indeed dragons and phoenixes among men, extraordinary people."
Several people continued to ride their horses and advanced slowly along the road leading to Shule City.
"Are there any rivers longer than yours, Ushus? Is there a land more fertile than yours, Uss? Is there any suffering deeper than yours, Uss? Is there a will stronger than yours, Uss?
Xu Si?”*
The singing sounded in the distance, as if floating from the white snow on Qianquan Mountain, like a lost white crane, like falling leaves, faintly reaching everyone's ears.
"What song is this?" Zhao Kuo couldn't help but ask after listening quietly for a while.
"This is a song that sings about the suffering of this land. The people singing it should be Turks who must leave here and go to other places."
Everyone knows the latest decree issued by the Xuanfu Division of Congling. It must be a group of Turkic tribes who believe in Christianity and are unwilling to give up their beliefs, so they can only leave their hometown and go to other places.
"Uxus? Where are you talking about?" Zhao Lian asked curiously.
"Wuxus... should be said to be the Dayue River." Zhao Si said leisurely, "During the pre-Tang Dynasty, the Sogdians called this river the Water of Wuhu. When transliterated, it is similar to Wuxus. So.
It seems that this ballad is not original to the Turks, but was passed down from the Sogdians."
Zhao Geng continued calmly: "The Turks moved west from Jinshan and drove away the Sogdians living here. Presumably the Sogdians also sang this tragic song, left here, traveled far away, and finally disappeared into history
The long river. Now the Turks also sing this song, it is really the reincarnation of history."
Zhao Kuo and Zhao Lian were shocked by these words and couldn't help but sigh. Zhao Si and Guo Lingbao couldn't help but glance at Zhao Geng.
Everyone remained silent and continued to listen, letting the song float in the air. Finally, like the sunset in the west, it quietly dissipated and was never heard again.
"Ask someone from the Mission Bureau to copy these songs. They are all history, a living history of the Western Regions." Zhao Si ordered the schoolmaster next to him.
"Father, these songs are nice to listen to, but they sound a little sad," said the outspoken Zhao Kuo.
"There's nothing sad about it. As long as we, the soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty, don't sing this kind of ballad, I have nothing to be sad about." Zhao Si waved his riding crop and said nonchalantly.
Guo Lingbao was stunned for a moment, savoring the cruelty and truth in this sentence.
Having such an emperor was a great blessing for the Song Dynasty, but a misfortune for other nations.
When the group arrived at Gaochang City, Quan Tianshan County Yin Xue Bi led a group of local officials out of the city to greet them.
Zhao Si walked around Gaochang City and said to Xue Bi: "The Tianshan Mountains divide the Western Region into two parts, the south and the north. You have to run on both sides, don't worry about one and lose the other."
"Your Majesty, rest assured that the roads in the north and south of the mountain are smooth, making it very convenient for me to inspect the north and south. The north of the mountain is mainly about agriculture and animal husbandry, and the south of the mountain is mainly about farming. Each has its own emphasis. I know it well, and I will not dare to disappoint your majesty's expectations."
"Well, Tianshan County is vast and sparsely populated, with many tribes and conflicts hidden under the water, which is very troublesome. The farmers recruited from Hedong, Shaanxi and other places are one of the key pivots. In the absence of Wen Tongzi, Yantong
Before I speak, the reclamation division and the garrison troops here are your important support. You must remember it."
"I will remember it."
"But fortunately, Tianshan County has many problems, but it is still stronger than Congling and Hezhong. Moreover, it is close to the three banners of Baihu, Xuanwu, and Zhuque, as well as Hexi and Shaanxi counties. With their backing, we have nothing to fear."
"Your Majesty, my waist is very hard now." Xue Bi replied with a smile.
"It's better to be tougher. Only by doing hard things, speaking softly, and doing both hard and soft can we turn Tianshan County into a real county. If you have any questions, please communicate with the Congling Xuanfu Division. You are now their rear area. Everything
The situation must be reported back in time and follow the dispatch arrangements of the Xuanfu Department."
"I understand!"
*This ballad is adapted from the Kyrgyz folk song in "White Ship", which Lu Yao quoted in "The Ordinary World".
