Extra Chapter 19 The majesty of the prosperous Tang Dynasty and the festivals of the millennium
Twenty-one years of Tang Dynasty civilization.
The tenth day of September.
The much-anticipated Thousand Autumn Festival has finally arrived.
When I first entered Yin, the sky was still dark, but the Daming Palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Looking from a distance, the continuous brilliance drove away the darkness and created a bright space.
Officials from the Tang Dynasty and envoys from various countries were waiting in front of the Danfeng Gate in the middle.
Taoist priests from Zhenwu Temple and monks from Daci'en Temple gathered at Wangxian Gate on the left.
If the people of Chang'an want to come to watch the ceremony, they are arranged to enter through the Jianfu Gate on the right.
Just the sheer number of people creates a lively and festive atmosphere.
On this day of celebration, the imperial guards will not impose strict restrictions, but the officials of Honglu Temple will not be able to watch over them.
There are whispers in the crowd, and those who do not follow the etiquette will not be scolded as long as it is not excessive.
In such a relaxed atmosphere, everyone was very happy to communicate, and most of their emotions were filled with expectation and joy.
Including the Food Mission.
Because the leaders have become Pushmi and Leonti.
One was the provincial governor of Dashi, and the other was a scholar from Byzantium. They were indeed the real members of the envoy. Now they hurriedly and slowly arrived in Chang'an, identified the authenticity, and took over their positions.
Of course, the matter of the real and fake envoys came out, and the dancer who rehearsed the opera died in palace confinement. The spread of these sensitive news made the envoys from various countries look a little strange.
Although the two world powers have not officially declared war, the atmosphere of hostility is already very obvious. The small countries that surrendered to the power of the Tang Dynasty shared the same hatred and even sharpened their swords. The small countries in the Middle East did not dare to offend the Tang Dynasty and could only stay away from it.
If the position where we were standing had not been properly arranged and could not be changed at will, I am afraid that there would be a clear area around the Dashi envoys.
Pushmi and Leonti felt targeted, but were secretly amused.
They were in the Tang Dynasty, or their original position was not very clear, but after this mission, they were unwavering, and they wished that the gap between the two countries' diplomatic voices would be as wide as possible.
The only thing worth worrying about now is that General Abu has gone somewhere.
He was an absolutely loyal minister of Dashi, and he used it to catch traitors every time he went on an envoy trip.
If a bigger conspiracy hadn't been discovered later, the two sides would have fought to the death.
Even so, the disappearance of General Abu still made them a little worried. This guy would not die down.
Just as I was thinking about it, there was a noise in front of me, and the Danfeng Gate had opened.
Suddenly, the sight suddenly opened up, and the majestic and huge building complex was like a palace in the sky, extending infinitely in the light.
Viewed from a distance, the Daming Palace is already quite spectacular. Now that we have officially entered the palace, the feeling of insignificance spreads from the bottom of our hearts.
The whispers suddenly fell down, and a solemn and solemn feeling suddenly arose.
"OK!"
Following the loud voice, the officials responsible for guidance led the way, and a group of envoys wearing costumes from various countries followed obediently.
After a short journey, everyone arrived at the corridor side hall of Xuanhui Hall.
Unlike ordinary palaces, which are deep, wide and square, Xuanhui Palace is a specially built cloister-style building complex.
There is an open main hall directly in front, with corridors on both sides connected, enclosing an open square in the middle. The four verandas can look directly into the center, and a high platform has been specially erected there.
Officials and envoys entered the main hall, while their families and common people went to sit in the verandas on the left and right, ensuring that all parties could see the performance on the high platform. This was true enjoyment with the people.
This kind of design was a change that was gradually improved after Li Hong ascended the throne. The saint who was once in poor health always cared about the people and treated his servants kindly.
As an emperor, simplicity is a virtue, but it is definitely not at the forefront. As long as you conquer according to your ability, rest with the people, and don't start wars rashly, the rise and fall of the world will not be subversive due to the increase or decrease of one family's expenses.
The change.
The key is to do all these things to show the style of the country.
Even if the envoys from various countries had heard about it before, they all expressed admiration after hearing it a thousand times and seeing it once.
Even if you don't watch the show or listen to the music, just being present is a rare experience.
Of course, for envoys, no matter how magnificent the building is, they can only appreciate it. What is more noteworthy is the Beiya Royal Forest Army, which is lined with soldiers.
They were the absolute elite of the Tang Dynasty, and they were not hidden in deep palaces for a long time. They were selected and trained by the elites of various armies, and the best of them were sent out to the frontiers to make achievements.
In this way, the border generals also had the honor of being disciples of the emperor, which not only facilitated the Tang emperor's control over the army, but was also a by-product of the reform of the military system.
Therefore, the mediocre Imperial Guards now may be the generals who will roam the battlefield in the future. The envoys cannot usually see them, so they are most concerned about them at this time.
It's just that it's not bright yet, and the two sides are far apart, so it's hard to see clearly, but the sound of beasts can be heard faintly.
"The Zoo is open!"
Everyone's attention turned.
Just as the nobles of the Tang Dynasty liked to raise lynx and falcons, the stables of saints were also places to show their majesty.
And every festival is the time for these beasts, which are carefully taken care of on weekdays, to come out and show their faces.
Birds include eagles and harriers, and animals include tigers and leopards. They are all considered ordinary. The one with the most visual impact is the elephant.
"The divine elephant is powerful, and I, the Buddha, will protect you!"
When the majestic outline gradually approached under the guidance of the animal tamer, the Buddhist worshipers among the envoys even prostrated themselves and recited Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures.
These elephants were tribute from Tianzhu and were specially tamed to serve as the guardian beasts of Buddhism.
When we first arrived in the Tang Dynasty, many Buddhist patterns were painted on elephant skins and ivory, hoping to make the Tang emperor understand Buddhism.
In the end, the elephant believed it.
At least that's what the trainer said.
In any case, these ferocious beasts stayed and became the most eye-catching mounts. They followed the holy driver, and the eagles spread their wings, and the tigers and leopards crouched, each roaring. Such style was just a foreplay.
"So prosperous and majestic!"
At this moment, I don't know how many envoys felt a sincere feeling of awe. Such awe both internally and externally was the true meaning of the coming of all nations to the DPRK, rather than the superficial form.
The whispers started again, this time they turned to personal force.
"The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was ill when he was young. Later, he received the magical skills taught by Zhenwu Sage, and he is now healthy..."
"More than Kang Jian, you have never seen Emperor Tang, who is like a god, immortal and immortal..."
"We'll see it soon, it's really exciting!"
Pu Ximi was equally relaxed and fascinated.
He thought of the Zhenwu Sect in Dashi.
That new sect that is still stubbornly taking root despite the encirclement and suppression of Christianity and Islam.
I didn't understand it before, but now I understand it. Compared with the rumored miracles, here are real examples.
This Emperor of the Tang Dynasty used to be a sick man and died young. Later, he practiced the magical skills taught by Zhenwu and recovered from his illness and even lost his appearance. This is a fact that everyone in the Tang Dynasty knows, and it is also the most enviable divine grace.
Therefore, Pu Ximi understood very well why the Tang Emperor became obsessed with Taoism.
As the emperor of this great empire, his mortal power has reached its peak, and his next goal is naturally to become an immortal god!
"Look, is that Mr. Yang?"
Just as he was thinking about ascension, Leonti's solemn reminder came over.
Pu Ximi followed his line of sight and looked at where the Tang Dynasty officials were, and suddenly his eyes froze.
He saw Yang Zaiwei.
He changed his clothes, no longer looked like a monk, but looked like an attendant, standing behind a Tang Dynasty official.
That's not an ordinary official, but a prime minister wearing a purple robe and being very resourceful!
Yang Zaiwei was so keen that he noticed the gaze immediately and even judged that they were the two fellow travelers of the original Dashi envoy. However, he did not turn around to signal, but calmly waited for the official start of the Thousand Autumn Festival.
However, the purple-robed officer slowly turned his head and whispered: "Your people?"
Yang Zaiwei said calmly: "With such keenness, it can be seen that you are in a high position and have not lost your martial arts skills. It is rare."
Jia Sibo smiled: "Practice martial arts is also to strengthen the body. I was paranoid in my early years. Now that I am older, I should cultivate my moral character."
Yang Zaiwei was silent.
Jia Sibo's smile turned bitter: "Brother Wei, why do you do this? You are my savior. Without the rescue back then, I would still be a living dead being tortured by Weishi Jin, and I might have died long ago!"
Yang Zaiwei's expression remained cold.
Jia Sibo said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, as the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, there are some things that I will never allow."
Yang Zaiwei nodded.
"In this eternal drama, you sing and I appear on stage, each with his own plans!"
Still remembering that day, he and Xiao Hei had just met "Yuan Tiangang" and left the Sanqing Palace in the imperial city. They made their own judgment: "The harvest of this trip has confirmed the success of Lan Masanti's side."
There is a conspiracy, but 'Yuan Tiangang' is not an ally. His purpose is to use our hands to eliminate the Yuan clan. Once the flaw is eliminated, there will be no worries!"
Xiao Hei was quite curious: "Who is this person pretending to be Yuan Tiangang?"
Yang Zaiwei also considered: "This person's martial arts skills are deeply hidden, his temperament is extraordinary, and he is indeed a mundane spirit. I'm afraid he has a good apprenticeship. If we follow this up, there will always be loopholes to find. Unfortunately, time is tight and there is no time to investigate his background."
"
Xiao Hei murmured: "Ming Chongyan hates 'Yuan Tiangang' deeply, but he has never been able to grasp the slightest clue about him in these years, and the internal guards cooperated to cover it up..."
Her eyes moved, and a flash of lightning flashed faintly behind her head. A look of surprise appeared on her eyebrows, and she continued: "We must grasp the root cause. After the Tang Dynasty has been in peace for a long time, all the forces in need of merit are very eager to start a war.
; And the rest is not seeking peace, but the tactics are biased towards stabilizing Anxi and cannibalizing the country. Xu Rulin, among others, can be called a slow-down war. The source of this case is the contradiction between the quick-war faction and the slow-war faction!"
Yang Zaiwei snorted: "If you want to fight quickly, the best way is to fight in the court, so that these conspiracies and tricks will be looked down upon!"
The little gangster said: "It happened that the prestige of the Saint and Duke Di was so high that it was difficult for the Suzhan faction to move. There happened to be a vision of a strange star falling from the sky, and they were used by people with intentions to combine them. However, the purpose was certainly the same.
The methods used are quite different..."
Yang Zaiwei understood: "How many people were aware of such acts as counterfeiting miracles and desecrating Zhenwu before the incident? The reputation of Zhenwu has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of the Tang Dynasty. Although some people seek benefits and take desperate risks, there are also more people of the Tang Dynasty.
The people truly respect the being who has brought great changes to this world."
"The false goddess descending from the sky is just a trick that will anger Zhenwu. Yuan Tiangang and the Yuan family are holding each other's hands, which is a special case, but the planners dare not tell the truth to the allies..."
"The only way is to kill first and tell later. When the deal is done and the war begins, even if you are afraid of offending the gods, you have to admit it!"
Xiao Hei nodded: "We can win over those officials who are unwilling to fake miracles. Do you have any candidates?"
Yang Zaiwei said: "There is one person who supports a quick war and has a very important position. Although he and I do not have a deep friendship, we have had a life-saving kindness..."
As a result, the two of them acted separately. Yang Zaiwei found Jia Sibo and informed Lanmasanti's plot.
Jia Sibo's expression was a little surprised at that time, and then he promised to deal with it.
Yang Zaiwei did not believe in his character, but believed in his abilities. Unexpectedly, until this day of the Qianqiu Festival, there was no actual action.
It's okay that the Thousand Autumn Festival is still held. The key is that Lanmasanti's true identity has not been caught, and the palace is peaceful.
Yang Zaiwei has a sharp mind and is well-informed, but in terms of political wisdom, he also knows that he is far from Jia Sibo's opponent. Fortunately, he has his own set of rules of conduct. If the other party violates the rules, he will kill him.
It's not that far yet, and I don't know what's going on with Xiao Hei. I always feel that when we parted that day, the other person's expression seemed a little strange.
"Did she see something?"
…
"But let me catch you!"
Xiao Hei jumped onto the palace beam lightly, his pupils stood up, glowing with a faint and mysterious luster under the candlelight, and locked onto a figure.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! That is a palace servant, inconspicuous among the busy servants, and there is no strange smell on his body. Under normal circumstances, he will definitely be glanced at
However, upon closer inspection, Xiao Hei could see some clues in this person's movements.
Ever since she separated from Yang Zaiwei that day, she had adopted a stupid method, using the invisibility technique to come and go freely in the palace, and screened all the servants and maids.
Fortunately, the number of people in the palace under Li Hong's rule was not large. After working hard day and night, he finally got the reward before the final time limit came.
After confirming the target, Xiao Hei suddenly said: "The art of disguise is superb, and I can dress up as a waiter flawlessly, and I have internal cooperation. No wonder I dare to do such a big thing. It's a pity that she doesn't know, whether it is Lan Masanti's true identity."
, as well as the reality of 'Yuan Tiangang', there are people who are very aware of it and look at it coldly!"
After the words fell, there seemed to be no one around, but a clear and elegant voice came into my ears: "Sister, you praise me too much."
"Shangguan Wan'er, you are indeed watching her every move!"
Xiao Hei smiled bitterly: "I lost the bet. From the beginning, you knew the conspiracy of these thieves!"
Wan'er's tone was gentle, but also slightly curious: "I wonder how my sister saw it?"
The little gangster said: "Everything else is flawless. Only the exposure of 'Yuan Tiangang' reminded me that if this counterfeiter works together with the family, he can deceive the superiors and conceal the inferiors. However, he is not on good terms with the Yuan family.
We have conflicts of interest, but we use the power of the inner guard to hide our identity. How can we hide this from you, the chief of the inner guard?"
"Interestingly, that's exactly why he rose to the top."
"There are so many people who use the name of Zhenwu to cheat, but only Yuan Tiangang can ascend to a high position precisely because he even disguises his identity, and he can gather the Zhenwu faith. He is under control. As long as you want, you can turn your hand.
Dust it off!"
The bet was lost, but Xiao Hei's tone was full of admiration.
Even she was beguiled by Yuan Tiangang's scenery at the beginning. She never expected that Shangguan Wan'er was deliberately supporting this powerful man.
Unbelievable, but quite reasonable.
Ever since Li Yan ascended to heaven and became a god, Taoism's belief in Zhenwu became out of control and became uncontrollable.
Just imagine that even in Dashi, a considerable number of people believe in Zhenwu, let alone the Tang Dynasty, which regards Tao as its national religion?
If this continues, one day it will lead to a catastrophe, and it will be exploited by people with intentions, and it may even shake the foundation of the country!
So at the right time, Yuan Tiangang appeared on stage just right.
The beliefs of Taoism and Buddhism are not without their disadvantages, but they are generally controllable and lead people to do good. They are much better than those local obscene sacrifices and evil practices that are cruel and vicious.
Yuan Tiangang is the "Tao and Buddha" in Shangguan Wan'er's hands, and he uses him to block the way of those obscene and evil sacrifices.
Of course, in order to prevent this person from becoming too big and uncontrollable, the issue of identity is the most deadly invisible chain that is always around his neck.
If the fortune tellers of the late Sui Dynasty and early Tang Dynasty are true, they are of course over a hundred years old immortals with immortal demeanor. Once exposed as fake, they will be deceiving the world and stealing their reputation, and their reputation will be ruined immediately.
Xiao Hei sighed a little at this and felt strange: "'Yuan Tiangang' is fighting secretly with the Yuan family. The two sides check and balance each other. Is it your work? They are chess pieces without knowing it. It's just that I'm a little confused. The two sides
The confrontation created the evil consequences of Lanmasanti, and she began to take risks during the Qianqiu Festival, pretending to be a goddess, why did you still let it go?"
More than 20 years ago, Li Hong used his sickly body as bait to lure thieves to jump out and launch a coup. He ruthlessly eliminated a group of party members who supported Empress Wu or opposed the new emperor.
Small trauma.
However, this kind of behavior can never be repeated. When the new dynasty is on the right track, fishing and law enforcement will no longer be a shortcut, but will cause huge damage to the political ecology.
What's more, at this time when all nations are coming to court and the festival is coming, no matter how hard Lan Masanti goes, even if she fails afterwards, the gains outweigh the losses.
In response to this question, Wan'er remained silent for a moment, and then said after a moment: "Sister, can you wait and see what happens?"
The little black eyes rolled: "According to the bet, you find out the instigator behind Lanmasanti, and I will tell you the story. But now you have many inaccuracies, so I will tell you later, how about it?"
Wan'er responded with a slight smile: "Okay."
As the two communicated, the huge flow of people finally merged into the Xuanhui Hall, and the sun began to rise, shining on the earth, and the natural brilliance began to replace the acquired lights.
In the envoys, Pushmi and Leonti straightened their backs and held their breath in concentration.
Among the officials, Yang Zaiwei showed no expression and silently clenched his fists.
On top of the palace, Xiao Hei stood facing the wind, overlooking the panoramic view.