The biting cold wind blew on Zinu's face, lifting the black veil covering his face.
Her face was full of exhaustion. After parting ways with Li Qinzai, Zi Nu left the Tang army camp with her entourage.
She first came to Puchanghai in the middle of the desert, which was also known as Lop Nur in later generations. She knelt down beside the once prosperous city of Loulan Kingdom, which was now in ruins. She and her followers howled bitterly.
Offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, pay homage to ancestors, and finally offer three glasses of wine to the innocent creatures of Loulan Kingdom who once died in vain.
Get up and leave, the yellow dust blows away, the once prosperous Loulan Kingdom will be buried in the yellow sand forever, and no one will know the truth of this ruins anymore.
After leaving the ruins, Zi Nu and his followers headed west.
She wanted to see the distant and mysterious kingdom of Persia and the countries in the Western Regions that were also built on the yellow sand and were still prosperous today.
She also wanted to go to Tianzhu, kneel in front of the Buddha statue, listen to the Sanskrit singing from the bliss of the West, and seek a moment of rest for her painful soul.
There are many places she wants to go. After leaving Li Qinzai, her world becomes broader and lonelier.
The Tocharian Hu merchant, Zi Nu, met him in Xi'an state at the border between the Tang Dynasty and Persia.
All people in Anxi Prefecture are barbarians, and the Tocharian barbarian merchant is no different from the others.
Until a group of black-robed warriors suddenly launched a surprise attack on him in the busy city. Hu Shang fled with his head in his arms, and the black-robed warriors chased him step by step. Finally, they killed his wife, children, and children in front of him.
Zi Nu finally couldn't stand it anymore, and she felt that she had to take care of this matter, not for profit, but for conscience.
So Zi Nu and his entourage rescued Hu Shang, but the black-robed warrior refused to let him go and chased him all the way from Xi'an Prefecture to Yangguan.
When they arrived at the Great Pass of the Tang Dynasty, the black-robed warriors did not dare to provoke the invincible Tang army, so they could only retreat angrily.
As for the Tocharo Hu Shang's claim that having treasures in his possession would be enough for someone to be promoted to a noble rank, Zi Nu actually didn't believe it at all.
As far as she knew, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was not a mediocre king. His ministers could offer him a treasure and be promoted to a higher rank. It was ridiculous.
But Zi Nu still decided to send Hu Shang to Chang'an.
It's not out of kindness, but she misses him.
Rather than giving it away to others, it is better to say it is giving yourself an antidote to lovesickness.
So after entering Yangguan, the group continued eastward.
…………
The New Year has passed, but the government office is still at a standstill.
Officials in the Tang Dynasty also took annual leave, which was called "mu". During important festivals, or during the spring sowing and autumn harvest seasons, they would have a period of rest for as long as three or two days when they went to the court or to local government offices.
As long as half a month.
In a country based on agriculture, any activity related to food, whether it is superstitious or pragmatic, is respected by the monarch, ministers and people, and they must unconditionally make way for the harvest of food.
Although the court hall was closed for bathing, a news came out of Chang'an City inexplicably.
The Tang Dynasty accepted Tuyuhun, and its territory expanded far and wide. Since Zhenguan, when today's son is not inferior to his father, he has the image of a holy king, the country is peaceful, and all the nations come to court, how can we not congratulate him?
Therefore, the sage should be enshrined in Mount Tai, worship heaven and earth, shine upon the ancestors in the temple, and look up to the gods of the nine heavens.
It is really unusual for people to hear such voices.
What's even more unusual is that this voice spread to every corner of Chang'an City in just two days, and was heard by everyone.
To put it simply, one of the people in the city suddenly had a whim and thought that today’s world is so awesome, can he be granted the title of Zen Taishan?
When the words spread, everyone who heard it felt that it was indeed true. Such an awesome emperor must let God remember his name.
If a farmer's child harvests a few extra kilograms of grain, his father will praise him.
The monarch and his ministers have conquered thousands of miles of territory. Shouldn't they be praised?
You must stand on the top of the highest mountain, brag about your achievements, and then ask God to kiss you and hold you high.
Li Qinzai also heard about this rumor and suddenly felt his heart was clogged.
Fengchan Taishan cannot be said to be stupid, but it is obvious that the timing is not right.
Li Qinzai, the most important official, was not in a bad mood, but Li Zhi seemed to be a little.
He only thought about how to show off his achievements, but completely forgot that the Tang Dynasty had just experienced a great disaster, and the states and counties in the north were still receiving a steady stream of food relief from the south.
This year's spring sowing has not yet begun, and I don't know if the weather is going well. Su Dingfang is still leading an army of 30,000 to sweep away the remnant enemies in Tuyuhun, and must consume a lot of food and grass every day.
The treasury is empty and the rats are starving to death, but Li Zhi is still thinking about Feng Chan...
It is said that people who are not rich do not know how valuable food and rice are, but this person who has become a rich man cannot change his dandy temperament. In order to show off his achievements, he will not care about anything.
This is not what a wise king should do.
Li Qinzai clearly remembered that the idea of Feng Chan Taishan was not Li Zhi's idea, but Empress Wu's suggestion.
Therefore, it is said that if the old woman is in charge of the house, the house will collapse.
After hearing the rumor, Li Qinzai hurried back to the Duke's Mansion and rushed into Li Ji's study.
Before entering the door, I didn't forget to look around. The open space outside the study was covered with snow. I couldn't plant peonies now. Forget it, I'll go to the latrine to urinate later.
Li Qinzai kicked the door open as if he were raping someone. Before Li Qinzai could say anything, Li Ji in the study was already furious.
"The evil beast is looking for death!"
A paperweight was thrown over, Li Qinzai quickly closed the door with quick eyesight, and the paperweight hit the door hard.
Li Qinzai straightened his clothes and knocked on the door gracefully this time.
Li Ji's violent shouting came from inside: "Get out!"
"Okay, grandpa." Li Qinzai opened the door and sat across from Li Ji's desk with a bright smile on his face.
Li Ji stared at him coldly: "You'd better have a good reason, otherwise don't tell me what kind of county prince you are, even if you are granted the title of Duke, you are still a grandson, I will just take it!"
"Grandpa, why are you so irritable during the Chinese New Year? Here is the authentic Taoist original version of the "Calming Mantra" for my grandson. I guarantee that as long as grandpa recites it once, he will be halfway to spiritual transformation..."
The veins on Li Ji's forehead popped out, and he turned into a god in half a step...
So Li Ji began to look around in the study.
Li Qinzai's eyelids twitched. Every time Li Ji looked around, it meant that the conversation was over. Then he would either run away with his head in his arms, or immediately start talking about business to divert Li Ji's anger.
"Grandpa, wait a minute, my grandson has something serious to do!"
"I don't want to hear the real thing, I just want to get away from it."
"Grandpa, it's really serious. My grandson just heard a rumor in Chang'an City..."
Li Ji was successfully diverted from his anger and quickly calmed down. He glanced at him and stroked his beard and said, "But what about His Majesty's plan to grant Zen status on Mount Tai?"
"Grandpa heard about it too? What do you think?"
Li Ji twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "I think it's the right time to do it."
Li Qinzai frowned: "Grandpa also agrees with His Majesty's Taishan enshrinement?"