Chapter 157 Talking about ancient things with Jun Ye
There is a rectangular table, covered with gold embroidered cloth, and filled with palace dishes. Each dish is not large in quantity, served in small plates and bowls, but there are many, at least more than twenty dishes.
The luminous wine cups and chopsticks are inlaid with gold.
The Taoist still gave it to Sanhua Empress to taste first.
"I wonder when the immortal master came down from the mountain?"
"I came down from the mountain at the end of the summer of the first year of Mingde." The Taoist replied respectfully, paused, and then said, "I am just a Taoist, so I can't be called an immortal master. What's more, Your Majesty is the emperor of the ages, let alone the one in His Majesty's mouth.
The word "immortal master" is given to me. It would be an honor for me to call you sir according to the custom of this dynasty."
"Okay! I'll call you sir!"
The old emperor seemed very happy to receive Fulongguan's praise, and then asked: "Sir, do you want to travel around the world and visit the great mountains and rivers of Yan Dynasty?"
"almost."
The Taoist replied while picking up food for the cat.
I could feel the gaze from the general opposite.
"Sir, you are so carefree!"
"It's just leisure."
"I have been busy with military affairs for most of my life. At this age, I really envy you sir." The old emperor sighed with emotion, "It's funny to say that this world is my world, but speaking of it, I'm afraid the world I have seen is still worse.
I haven’t seen as many as I have seen in the past few years.”
"I dare not say that." The Taoist replied, "I am just a Taoist. The Taoist sees the world the way a Taoist sees the world, and your Majesty sees the world the same way. How can it be the same?"
"Hahaha! Wonderful words, sir!"
"Don't dare, don't dare..."
"I heard that my husband once practiced cultivation on Yunding Mountain, and one night was a year. It was really the work of an immortal."
"Just a coincidence."
"oh?"
"Yunding Mountain is full of aura, and there are also wonderful things left by the predecessors. When I came down here, I felt the aura, and the spirit was in heaven and earth, and I had the wonders of a night and a year." Song You lowered his head and said, "During this matter,
The right time, right place and good people are indispensable, and I am only a small part of them."
"Fellow Taoist is too modest," said the Imperial Master.
"I have long heard that there are gods on Yunding Mountain, but I have sent people to look for them several times but could not find them, so I thought it was just a rumor. It turns out, haha, Yunding Mountain is also waiting for gods like me."
"Don't dare, don't dare..."
"I also heard that there is a place in the north of Yuezhou that is full of green paulownia trees. Each one is an ancient tree, towering into the clouds. Someone once saw a phoenix there, standing on the green paulownia tree to comb its feathers. I wonder if you know this?
?”
"I have only been down the mountain for a few years, and have only traveled through the five states. I have not been to Yuezhou, so I don't know about it."
"Is there no record of Fulong Temple?"
"Your Majesty, you don't know. Although I, Fulong Guan, have traveled around the world for generations, I have never left behind what I saw and heard while traveling around the world."
"Oh? Why is this?"
"So that every generation sees the world as it sees it."
"Wonderful!"
The emperor couldn't help but laugh with high fives, and then he felt a little regretful: "I also sent people to search for the north of Yuezhou, and I did see the towering Qingtong that has been around for thousands of years, but I didn't see the phoenix, and I don't know if I have no chance to see it.
Or is this rumor just a rumor from the world, and I thought I could find the answer from sir."
"I disappoint His Majesty."
"I heard rumors that if you drink the phoenix essence and blood, you will live forever. Is it true or not?"
"How can immortality be so easy to ask for?"
"That's probably false."
"..."
Only then did Song You have time to taste the food.
Most of these dishes have cumbersome craftsmanship. Except for the palaces that need cumbersome work to show their status, there is rarely a suitable soil for them, and they are almost impossible to see outside. Song You can't even name them. Some of them can be tasted when you put them in your mouth.
They can’t tell you the general craftsmanship and ingredients used, but some people can’t even taste what it is or how it’s made.
Nothing tastes bad, everything is delicious.
No matter how bad it is, it can still be called "light".
There are only a few that are particularly stunning.
After all, the emperor is old and has a light taste. These dishes must pay attention to the style, and some also pay attention to auspicious metaphysics. The names are nice, and they are not just pursuing taste.
After the meal, the emperor did not ask about any political affairs, but only talked about immortality, ghosts and gods, and the wonders of the world.
That's fine, at least it's good for Song You.
Song You was not a good minister or sage, and he was not familiar with government affairs. It was difficult for him to give good answers when asked. On the contrary, such a chat-like conversation made him feel relaxed.
He also didn’t talk about the previous affairs of the Taiwei Mansion.
According to the principle of ordinary people's dialogue, the Taoist should take care of the emperor's face. Even if he is hypocritical, he should apologize first, and then the emperor will stand up and say it doesn't matter. Or the emperor should show his magnanimity and express his concern for the offense the Taoist received in Changjing.
Feeling ashamed that he was not strict with his subordinates, the Taoist pretended to be frightened and exposed the matter.
However, neither party did so.
Not even a word was mentioned.
As for the Imperial Preceptor and General Chen, the Imperial Preceptor occasionally chimed in a few words, while General Chen Ziyi remained silent most of the time, more like a backdrop. He would only glance at Song You when he heard something interesting.
Until the night gradually deepened, the stars outside the palace were already full.
"It's late at night." Song You stood up and said goodbye, "It's time for me to say goodbye to His Majesty."
"Sir, are you leaving now?"
"It is late."
"Well, I had a great night chatting with you sir. I had a lot of fun. In recent years, all the fatigue from government affairs seems to have disappeared. Since sir is in a hurry to go back, I won't stay any longer." The emperor said and looked again.
Looking at the Imperial Preceptor and Chen Ziyi, "I will send you sir out of the palace, but the Imperial Preceptor and General Chen must stay. When I come back, we can hold candlelight talks until the third watch."
"I have a merciless request."
"Sir, just say it!"
"There are some dishes in your Majesty's banquet that I really like, and I would like to take some back with you."
"Why not?"
The emperor agreed casually: "It's just that the food on the table has cooled down, and it's been prepared in the imperial kitchen. So I'll ask you, sir, to stay for a while. I'll ask someone to heat it up, and I'll prepare a car to deliver it to your residence."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Song You quickly saluted.
Soon after.
Lights were lit everywhere in the palace, like fluorescent lights, illuminating the carvings on the white marble railings and floor tiles.
The old emperor and the young Taoist walked side by side, walking slowly. The calico cat did not know the rules and ran around with small steps, looking left and right, looking for mice in the palace.
Behind him were many eunuchs and maids, carrying food boxes, following at a distance without saying a word. Some people often raised their eyes, glanced at the Taoist and his cat in front of them, and then quickly looked away.
"Can I leave my name in history?"
"Your Majesty is joking, which emperor doesn't leave his name in history?"
"The current territory of Dayan far exceeds that of previous dynasties. The population of the people is also the highest in the past, and the people's livelihood is prosperous, which is also the best in the past. The people of no other dynasty have lived as well as this dynasty." The emperor waved his sleeves with a few words.
He was drunk and asked the Taoist, "Come from all directions to congratulate you, and all nations come to pay homage. Sir, do you think that in the future, descendants will call me the emperor of the ages?"
"I don't know what will happen in future generations."
The Taoist's answer was as calm as ever.
"Don't you know, sir?"
"The merits and demerits will be judged by future generations."
"Sir, that's good!" The emperor smiled, "But now I have three worries and doubts, but I want to ask you for help!"
"I am young, have little knowledge, and do not understand government and military affairs. I am afraid that I will mislead Your Majesty."
"Sir, what you said is wrong." The emperor said as he walked, "I have been on the throne for decades, and I don't know how many voices I hear in my ears every day, some are right, some are wrong, some are good, some are bad, if it's something
It's a big deal, let alone anything. How could I be so easily misunderstood?"
"Your Majesty is wise."
"What's more, regarding matters concerning the people, you can ask either the scholar-officials, the traders or the footmen, and naturally you can also ask the Taoist immortals. As for how to adopt it, I have my own thoughts." The emperor said, the smell of alcohol had dissipated from his body, "Please tell me, sir."
Come, don’t be burdened.”
"Your Majesty, please speak."
Song You thought he was right.
How could the emperor in front of him be in such a prosperous world if he believed whatever others said? No matter what he said, it was just adding another voice in his ears.
At most, this sound is louder.
And he also wanted to hear what the emperor was worried about and what he wanted to talk to him about.
"One of my worries is that the population of Dayan is increasing rapidly."
"Um."
"In other dynasties, I think it's a good thing. If it's another emperor sitting in my position, I'm afraid I think it's a good thing too. Even the important officials in the court, many of them are proud of it and often stay away from home.
I'm bragging about this in front of the envoys of the state." The emperor said, looking at Song You, "But sir, you must know that a large number of people is a disaster. If things continue like this, the world may be in chaos."
"yes."
"My ancestor saved Dayan's life decades ago. I wonder if you have any good ideas now?"
"It's a coincidence." Song You thought for a while before saying.
"What a clever trick?"
"In the second year after I went down the mountain, I went to Anqing in Xuzhou. There was a great demon in Anqing who had practiced Taoism for nearly a thousand years. Because of his many good deeds, he was regarded as the Yanxian by the local people. Does your majesty know about it?"
"But that Yanxian who stole grain from official warehouses to help the people in the year of severe drought?" The emperor said it without thinking.
Song You didn't know whether he knew about this because he was interested in the immortality of gods and ghosts, or whether he knew about it because he knew everything about the world. In short, he praised:
"Your Majesty is truly a wise king."
"I wonder what that person has to do with this matter?"
"When I arrived in Anqing, Immortal Yan knew about it and asked me to be a guest, and also chatted with me about the way to become a god." Song You said, "At that time, I also thought about what your Majesty is worried about at the moment, and thought about Anqing.
Yanxian was born with the ability to fly across the ocean, was knowledgeable, and wanted to benefit all people and achieve the status of a god, so he asked Anqing Yanxian to go overseas to look for good seeds, which might solve Dayan's urgent need, and his merits would be immeasurable."
"oh!?"
The emperor was immediately shocked and asked: "Sir, do you know that there are high-quality seeds overseas?"
"Just a guess."
"If we can find a better rice variety with a higher yield per acre than that of Oriental rice and solve this crisis, I will thank you sir on behalf of the people of the world!" The emperor said and was about to salute.
"Your Majesty must not give such a great gift. It's too early at this time, and I don't know if Yan Xian can be found." Song You said, "What's more, if he is found, it will be Yan Xian's descendants who have searched hard across the sea. Even if they have to
It’s not my place to thank you, it’s my place to thank Anqing Yanxian.”
"Sir and Yan Xian both deserve thanks."
"If you find it, please promote it as soon as possible to relieve this urgent need." Song You paused, "I have agreed with Yan Xian that he will benefit the people, and I will protect his merits. If your Majesty really wants to thank you,
I then ask your majesty to reward Anqing Yanxian. Although the merits and virtues of this matter are immeasurable, it is all done by Yanxian and cannot be divided among others."
"I will obey!"
"If I don't find it, I will find out later. There is no other way. I hope Your Majesty will not blame you."
"Sir, if you have a good heart, you are doing great good!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"It is a good thing to invite you to the palace to talk about the results, and it is also a good thing to see you off. In just a short moment, I have relieved a lot of sorrow in my heart, and I will have a good night's sleep from now on." The emperor said, "But I
There are still two major doubts in my mind.”
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"The first is a serious problem in the north." The emperor said, "After years of fighting, the people in the Northern Saipan no longer dare to invade, and the Western Regions have become more stable. However, the chaos in the northeast and northwest is not a problem of one generation, but a problem of every Central Plains people for thousands of years.
The dynasty is a serious threat. Naturally, everything is peaceful in the prosperous times. Once the Central Plains declines, they will surely sweep southward, endanger the court, plunder the people, and bring disaster to the common people. If we talk about repelling them, many dynasties have done it during their prosperous times, but they can only do so.
It can be cured for a while, but it won’t last for a few years or more.”
"Your Majesty, you want to fight?"
"Of course!"
The emperor was not wearing the imperial robes, only ordinary clothes. He was walking casually in the palace late at night, chatting with Taoists. He just opened his mouth, and it was not only about the life and death of tens of millions of people, but also about this land.
The fate of millions of people in future generations.
Perhaps this opening is a pearl in history.
"At this time of uprightness and prosperity, there are both national teachers and good generals. I want to send troops to conquer the northern part of the Great Wall first, and then the western regions. I only hope that in my lifetime, I can help thousands of people in the future to eliminate the great troubles in the north!"
The old emperor's voice was sonorous and powerful.
The Taoist couldn't help but narrow his eyes after hearing this.
What the emperor said was an exaggeration, but even if it only ensured the peace of the north for a hundred years, it would still be regarded as an extraordinary achievement.
"..."
At this time, what the Taoist saw in his eyes seemed to be no longer a palace in the middle of the night, but a turning point in history.