"Several guest officials please come in." A guest house steward welcomed Cheng Sanwu and others into a secluded courtyard, and heard him say: "Our master has given instructions. If the director Su of Baochang Society arrives, we will make arrangements. He came to live in this Kunggang courtyard for a short stay. The courtyard is cleaned every day and everything is pristine. Please rest assured, Manager Su."
Su Wangting cupped his hands and said: "Your residence is busy. I would like to ask you, when can I visit your master?"
"My master has been entertaining distinguished guests at the Gion Abode outside the city these days. I'm afraid I won't be able to come back in a hurry. Please forgive me, Mr. Su." The manager of the guest house spoke politely and showed no hint of arrogance.
Su Wangting nodded slightly, without comment, and the steward of the guest house bowed his hands and left: "If Mr. Su has no other instructions, then I will leave first."
"Let's go slowly." Su Wangting sent the other party out, and then together with Cheng Sanwu, he moved the belongings carried by the camels into the Kungang courtyard. Cheng Sanwu entered the courtyard and looked around, marveling:
"Okay, Lao Su, I thought that when I came to Chang'an, I would have to share a guest room with others, but I didn't expect that there would be such a big courtyard."
"This mansion is not mine." Su Wangting explained: "Not only Kungang Courtyard, but since we entered Chongrenfang, 80% of the mansions and courtyards we saw along the way belong to Mr. Wang Yuanbao."
"Didn't our Baochang Society occupy several square meters in Quzhi City at the beginning?" Cheng Sanwu put down the goods and crossed his arms, seeming a little unconvinced.
"How can Quzhi City be compared with Chang'an?" Su Wangting said with a smile: "Especially the dozens of villages in the northeast of Chang'an City, where all the royal relatives and dignitaries live. The land industry here is really not just based on property ownership. You can buy it with just money!”
"I have also heard about Wang Yuanbao." Changqing came to the courtyard, looked around, and talked eloquently: "Wang, Yang, Guo, and Ren were collectively known as the four great wealthy people of Chang'an in the world. They accumulated a lot of money and were rich. But the enemy country not only had close contacts with the dignitaries of the day, but also often hosted banquets with famous people from all over the world, and competed with each other to provide gifts. There were many famous officials in the government and the public who had received their favor and sponsorship.
"So much so that every year after the imperial examination, the scribes would be invited to the homes of these rich people to cultivate connections. Although the merchants of this dynasty were of low status and had many laws and prohibitions, these rich people were no longer limited to trading goods. , but conducted business in the court hall and in the forbidden palace."
Su Wangting sat on a big box and said helplessly: "They do a lot more business than I do, and the ordinary shops that provide food and accommodation for business travelers have long been out of their sight. Instead, they focus on the officials from other places who come to Chang'an to take up posts. These Most of the officials from other places do not come from wealthy families and do not have private residences in Chang'an, so they can only rent guest residences."
Chang Qing smiled delicately and continued: "I understand, if you have a future in officialdom, you will get preferential treatment from the four wealthy people. The rented guest residence will not only be quiet and clean, but it may also be close to the residences of some big shots, making it easier to communicate with each other. This It's nothing more than a way for brokers to build bridges. They don't care about immediate money, but focus on longer-term returns in the future."
"It's not easy to live in Chang'an. You can go to and fro in the officialdom, make contacts, and even get the latest news about the officialdom in Chang'an. None of this is free of charge?" Su Wangting scratched his loose hair.
"There are so many things going wrong." Cheng Sanwu moved the last batch of goods into the courtyard: "Lao Su, don't you want to see Mr. Lu? What are you doing to see this rich man Wang?"
"If Prime Minister Lu wants to enact new policies and increase taxes in various places, he will naturally have to deal with these rich people who have business companies and vehicles all over the prefectures and counties." Su Wangting said: "It's just that the rich kings may not obey Prime Minister Lu obediently.
The best way to use it is to insert a wedge into it."
Cheng Sanwu looked confused, but Changqing understood: "Do you want to take this opportunity to gain a position under Wang Yuanbao and assist Prime Minister Lu in implementing the New Deal?"
"As a human being, you have to find some work for yourself so that you won't be abandoned like a coward." Su Wangting smiled.
Cheng Sanwu complained: "I thought that when you returned to the Central Plains, Lao Su, you planned to enjoy your old age in peace."
"You don't have to fight with others. This is how you enjoy your old age." Su Wangting said with a relaxed face: "And I have worked in the Western Regions for more than ten years. You can't expect me to get an official position in front of Prime Minister Lu, right? For me
In other words, it means continuing to do business.”
"It's up to you." Cheng Sanwu wandered around the Kungang courtyard, while Su Wangting opened a wooden box and dug out a kit. Inside was a cyan orb, about the size of a quail egg, and there seemed to be clouds inside.
The water flows slowly.
"What is this?" Changqing asked curiously, seemingly sensing something.
"Changqing, would you like to try?" Su Wangting smiled and handed over the cyan blue orb. Changqing took it and held it in his palm. He vaguely felt a burst of enlightenment in his mind, and some trivial memories from the past that he had not paid much attention to emerged. They were arranged completely, as if
There is a cabinet in front of me, and each drawer contains a complete memory, which can be opened and inspected at any time. No matter the details, nothing is forgotten.
"This, this is..." Changqing couldn't help but raise his hand and press his forehead lightly. He immediately knew that this was a rare magic weapon.
"This is called a memory bead, and it was passed down from Tianzhu." Su Wangting said: "Buddhism originated from Tianzhu, and the scriptures are voluminous, but they don't have paper there, so they use bay leaves to copy the scriptures, just like the bamboo slips used in the Central Plains long ago.
Notes.
"But as the scriptures become more and more complex, even if a monk can read them all, he may not be able to memorize them all. But Tianzhu Buddhism is very good at debating scriptures, so you can't just improvise and read the Bayeux scriptures in public, right? That would make people laugh.
.
"That's why some eminent monks from India made these memory beads. Holding the beads in your hand, you can recall all the scriptures and texts you have read in the past. I also heard that some monks hold beads to practice contemplation, so that they can understand the difference between purity and impurity, and their realm of Buddhism is greatly improved.
promote."
"What a pearl of wisdom." Changqing snorted coldly: "Buddhism prides itself on not being fake, but if it is true, it still can't be avoided."
Su Wangting took back the memory bead and did not argue: "Actually, this memory bead can only help people recall what they have seen and heard in the past. It is said that in the early years of this dynasty, Master Tripitaka went to Tianzhu to obtain scriptures. He sat on the lion throne and held an unobstructed meeting. The Tianzhu monks
Although everyone has the help of pearls, no one can defeat Master Tripitaka, which shows that the memory pearl itself is by no means omnipotent."
"No matter how good the people are, it's useless no matter how good the things are." Cheng Sanwu came to the side and sneered.
"Lao Cheng, do you want to try it?" Su Wangting handed over the note beads.
Cheng Sanwu waved his hand impatiently: "Take it, take it! I don't have anything to think about."
Su Wangting smiled and put the memory beads back into the brocade bag. Changqing asked, "Are you going to give this to Prime Minister Lu?"
"That's right." Su Wangting seemed to have thought of something: "Changqing, do you have any opinions?"
"No." Chang Qing said as if nothing had happened: "Xiang Lu is in a high position and has a lot of thoughts. The memory beads must be able to help him recall many small things that he has forgotten and ignored."
Su Wangting knew that Changqing's words were hinting at his own life experience, but he did not point it out. He just packed his things silently and secretly prepared for the next action.
…
It was the Double Ninth Festival, and the air was crisp in autumn, just in time for a trip. The streets of Chang'an were busy with traffic, and children from aristocratic families pretending to be knight-errants formed friends and gangs. Each set up a pony, decorated with carved saddles and colorful bridles, and went out for a hunting trip in the city.
If high-ranking ladies are inconvenient to ride horses, they often ride mica carts. These carts are decorated with mica and are pulled by calves. They may be two or four in number. The carts are large, with windows on the left and right, and some are open on all sides.
It looks like a pavilion looking around.
Green oil curtains are hung on both sides of the carriage, which can be lowered to cover it in case of wind and rain. Bells are hung on the roof with red silk ropes. The bells shake when driving, and nearby pedestrians hear the sound and know to avoid collision to avoid collision.
Some princes and nobles went out in even greater ostentation. They simply built three-story vehicles with giant wheels in a row, and were pulled by dozens of strong oxen. There were guards on the left and right holding halberds to escort them. The cavalry in front whipped to disperse the pedestrians, and there were a large number of accompanying vehicles in the rear.
Horse slave.
The carriage itself was decorated with colorful silks and fluttering flowers, and it contained dozens of female musicians. They set off from the prince's residence, danced and played all the way, and went out to the countryside, attracting the people on the roadside to watch with their necks and eyes of great admiration.
"This kind of pomp and attitude is really the first time I've ever seen it!"
Cheng Sanwu was riding on horseback, looking at the majestic convoy marching on the street in the distance. As this colorful silk carriage passed by, all the carriages, horses and pedestrians on Cheng Sanwu's road were blocked and stagnated.
I could only watch the motorcade pass by.
"This guy must be coming back to Chang'an for the first time, right?" At this time, a passerby on horseback greeted him with a smile.
Cheng Sanwu bowed his hands and said, "How did Brother realize this?"
"Hahaha, this kind of scene happens every now and then in Chang'an, so it's not unusual." A passerby craned his neck and looked at it for a moment: "If I'm not wrong, this should be King Qi's car, right?"
Chang Qing, who was on the other side of Cheng Sanwu, frowned slightly: "King Qi? If you drive like this, you are probably violating the traffic regulations, right? Didn't you say that Jing Zhaoyin is investigating driving violations recently?"
The passer-by laughed and said: "Jing Zhaoyin was so heartbroken that he dared to check on King Qi. He is now His Majesty's fourth brother. All the officials and ministers will take the initiative to pay homage to him when they see him."
Changqing snorted coldly and said nothing more. Cheng Sanwu said with emotion: "This kind of pomp and circumstance, if I had enjoyed it before I died, my life would have been worth it."
"Are you envious?" Changqing asked.
"Of course, who wouldn't envy me?" Cheng Sanwu patted his thigh: "How much money do you think I have to earn to live like this?"
Changqing's tone was displeased and she whispered: "Don't you even think about how much people's wealth and support will be spent on this trip?"
Cheng Sanwu opened his mouth slightly. His eloquence was not good enough to argue, so he could only raise his shoulders and curl his lips as usual.
After the majestic motorcade had finished, the crowds of people returned to the flow. Cheng Sanwu and Chang Qing walked slowly and arrived at Chongye Square on the west side of the middle section of Zhuque Street. The two of them came to visit Xuandu.
The imperial capital of Chang'an was originally built by the previous dynasty, and was located at the site of the Liugang and Qiangua in Longshou. However, ninety-five of its noble positions were not suitable for ordinary people to live in. Therefore, Xuandu Temple and Xingshan Temple were built on the east and west sides of the central axis.
The power of gods and Buddhas stabilizes the earth's veins, so that the power of the flying dragon in the sky will not turn into an overpowering dragon with regrets, so as to prevent the dynasty's fortune from being short-lived.
It is a pity that the theory of luck did not benefit the previous dynasties, and later, Xuandu Temple and Xingshan Temple were only used as government offices for the Xia Dynasty to manage the world's monks and collect scriptures.
Xuandu Temple occupies a large area in Chongyefang. It contains not only palaces and pavilions, but also a large peach blossom forest, which is said to be planted by Taoist priests in the temple. Every spring, the peach blossoms bloom all over the temple, and it looks like a fairy mansion with red clouds.
It is one of the scenic spots in Chang'an and a place for the scholars of Chang'an to enjoy.
Unfortunately, the flowers and leaves are now withered, leaving only bare tree trunks and twigs all over the garden, so there really isn’t much scenery to be seen.
Changqing came here to deliver the letter of recommendation for Zhonghuang Temple, and took Cheng Sanwu with him. Along the way, he also explained to him the story of Xuandu Temple and the Taoist sect:
"...Since the Southern Dynasties when Master Lu Tianshi surveyed the three caves, Taoist scriptures and teachings were in order and spread all over the north and south, but there were inevitably more and more mistakes. The previous dynasty mixed together Shenzhou and intended to rectify the three religions. After the Xuandu Temple was completed, selected Taoist priests reviewed and corrected the three cave scriptures.
, compiled the imperial rituals and regulations, and compiled the classics, biographies, and treatises in a total of eight thousand and thirty volumes, which were stored in Xuandu Temple.
"Because of this, Xuandu Temple has become a holy place that all Taoists in the world yearn for. It can be roughly compared to Chang'an Imperial College. If you can go to Xuandu Temple and study Taoism carefully, you will not only have a complete set of scriptures, diagrams, and teachings, but also a group of high Taoists who will participate in the mysteries.
This is much better than practicing alone in a lonely monastery in the mountains."
"Really?" Cheng Sanwu took out a pack of Hu biscuits from his arms and asked, "I originally thought that Taoist sects were inherited independently in the deep mountains and old forests."
"There's a lot going on here...can you please stop eating it!" Chang Qing rushed forward angrily, stretched out his hand to wrap up the biscuits, and stuffed them into Cheng Sanwu's arms.
"One bite, just one bite!" Cheng Sanwu started to bargain.
"Already arrived!" Changqing pointed to a large hall in front of him. He suddenly admired Su Wangting. Cheng Sanwu was so stupid and stubborn that it was unbearable. Changqing even wondered if he was a spiritual guardian sent by God to sharpen his character.
The two came to the hall. There were no statues of immortals or gods here. Instead, it looked like a place where government offices and directors work. A tall and thin Taoist priest came forward and handed over his hands: "I don't know why you are here?"
"I want to go to the Taoist examination next year. I came here today to submit a letter of recommendation, and my name is on the list." Changqing took out the letter, and the tall and thin Taoist glanced at it and said, "Please follow me."
"Wait here for a moment." Changqing turned around and said to Cheng Sanwu, and then followed the tall and thin Taoist priest to the inner hall. There were many documents here, and there were more than one similar recommendation document on the desk.
The tall and thin Taoist priest handed the letter of recommendation to a young man. He looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. His appearance was younger than Changqing's, but his demeanor showed that he was older. With a purple robe and jade crown, he was at least a master of Dongzhen Dharma status.
Changqing was slightly surprised, guessing that the young man in purple robe had a very high level of Taoism and had even reached the stage of rejuvenation.
The young man in purple robe unsealed the letter of recommendation and read it carefully. Then he looked up at Changqing. After looking up and down for a moment, he showed a somewhat surprised expression: "Are you a disciple of Zhonghuang Temple? With such level of cultivation, Fang Deyi also
It can’t compare.”
"Master Fang Guan is the junior master." Changqing cupped his hands and confessed: "The junior master is Master Daguan of Songyue Fu Zang Palace."
"Is it him?" The purple-robed boy raised his eyebrows with a meaningful look.
"I don't know about this letter of recommendation from this junior..." Changqing hesitated slightly.
"You have gone around in circles for no reason." The young man in purple robe said with a smile: "Your Majesty heard that Master Daguan is proficient in the mysterious knowledge of Yin Fu, and recently issued an edict asking him to go to Beijing to preach. As a disciple of Master Daguan, you only
According to this article, if you want to be admitted to the Taoist register, why do you have to compete with others to take the Taoist examination?"