Early in the year, Xuanzang had sent a report to the court saying that he was nearing the Anxi Protectorate. He had to send the report, otherwise he would have trouble traveling back to the Tang Dynasty without official documentation.
At that time, Fang Xuanling instructed someone to issue a travel permit for Xuanzang, and Xuanzang officially set out to return to the Tang Dynasty. When he passed through Gaochang, he stayed for a few days to perform a memorial service for the former King of Gaochang. He had passed through Gaochang when he first embarked on his journey to obtain the scriptures and had engaged in lively discussions of Buddhist doctrines with the King of Gaochang, promising to meet again in the future. Sadly, upon his return, the king had passed away, and Gaochang had become part of the Tang Dynasty’s Anxi Protectorate.
It was at this time that Xuanzang learned of the many changes in the Tang Dynasty. For instance, Li Yuanying had sent people to spread Buddhist teachings among the various Tubo tribes, even incorporating tea into the practice of Zen Buddhism, creating numerous fabricated anecdotes about Zen tea. The Anxi Protectorate had also been influenced. While the common people didn’t have access to tea, officials and noblemen had the opportunity to savor its flavor.
The son of the King of Gaochang returned to Gaochang. Upon learning that it was an old friend of his father who had returned, he personally welcomed Xuanzang and offered him tea as a gesture of hospitality, allowing Xuanzang to taste the novelty.
As Xuanzang listened to the King’s son eloquently recount stories about Zen tea with profound Buddhist connotations, he was deeply astonished. Even he found that the bitterness of the tea held a certain flavor, perfectly aligning with the path of Buddhist cultivation.
Xuanzang had left Chang’an in the third year of Emperor Taizong’s reign. At the time, Li Yuanying had not yet been born. He had never heard of this Prince Tang.
Hearing about Li Yuanying’s deeds from the King of Gaochang’s son, Xuanzang firmly imprinted this figure in his memory. He had spent over a decade traveling to Tianzhu to acquire the true scriptures, naturally, he wanted to spread their teachings far and wide. To gain wider acceptance for the scriptures he had translated, he needed the approval of Emperor Li!
During his journey through over one hundred and ten countries, he had encountered a wealth of experiences and had paid close attention to the local customs, geography, and natural products. He believed these observations would be valuable to the court.
Xuanzang meticulously organized the knowledge he had gathered, hoping to gain the court’s recognition.
As summer arrived, the weather grew hot. Emperor Li, accompanied by Wei Zheng and others, went to Cuiwei Palace to escape the heat, leaving the Crown Prince in charge of Chang’an.
Hearing that Xuanzang had returned to Chang’an and settled at Hongfu Temple, Li Chengqian developed a desire to meet him.
Unlike Emperor Li, an atheist, Li Chengqian had some understanding of Buddhist doctrines. However, after Li Yuanying’s whirlwind of Zen tea promotion, Li Chengqian had developed a somewhat nuanced approach to dealing with Buddhism. He decided to pick and choose the beneficial aspects to believe in and the useful aspects to learn. Believing in some Buddhist doctrines was fine, but believing in all monks was unnecessary. Who knew if the monks had misinterpreted the scriptures? In essence, he would choose the good and follow it, and change the bad.
With this highly rational attitude, Li Chengqian summoned Xuanzang for an audience.
Although somewhat disappointed, Xuanzang remained composed and recounted some of his experiences during his pilgrimage to India to Li Chengqian. He believed that the countless hardships and dangers he had faced on his journey would make Li Chengqian view him differently.
However, Xuanzang miscalculated. Li Chengqian found the stories unremarkable. He had heard a plethora of similar adventure stories from Li Yuanying! Even though the places and people were different, the tales still involved dramatic twists and turns, thrilling and exciting.
Recently, Fengtai Tower had combined music and popular storytelling, offering a blend of narratives and musical accompaniment. It was both novel and entertaining. Compared to that, Xuanzang’s stories of his pilgrimage, told without any embellishment, seemed rather mundane.
After listening to two accounts, Li Chengqian lost interest and told Xuanzang to stop. He suggested that Xuanzang organize his disciples to help him compile his experiences into a book for the court’s reference.
Afterward, Li Chengqian, seemingly determined to add insult to injury, had someone fetch several copies of “Travelogues of Tubo” for Xuanzang as a reference. He instructed Xuanzang to use these books as a guide for recording his experiences, documenting the local products, customs, population, and livestock breeding practices of each region.
Li Chengqian, with an earnest expression, clasped Xuanzang’s hand and entrusted him with a task: “In past years, many Buddhist disciples have gone to Tubo and Turkestan to spread the Dharma. Since you, Master Xuanzang, have obtained the true scriptures, you must certainly send another group of people to teach these scriptures to them. I entrust this task to you as well.”
Xuanzang’s face stiffened. He could only force a smile and agree. He had been gone for nineteen years, and Chang’an had undergone tremendous changes. The once youthful Crown Prince had matured beyond recognition. It was hard to believe that this poised and elegant young man was the same lively and playful boy he remembered.
And why were so many Buddhist disciples traveling to places like Tubo and Turkestan? Back when he was leaving for Tianzhu to seek the true scriptures, few had supported him or wished to join him!
Had the world truly shifted so much in less than twenty years, leaving him completely disconnected from the Chang’an of today?
Xuanzang realized he needed to gain a better understanding of the current state of Chang’an before making any plans.
…
Li Chengqian, after meeting with Xuanzang, concluded that while the monk had endured hardship, he wasn’t very good at storytelling.
He ordered someone to arrange for a group of Buddhist disciples to assist Xuanzang in writing his book. He instructed them to choose those with literary talent and logical thinking, ensuring that “Record of the Western Regions” was meticulously detailed and engaging. Ideally, it should extol the virtues of the Western Regions to entice more merchants to brave the long journey and bring back its treasures.
Ideally, he wanted Chengxin and others to extract the exciting parts of “Record of the Western Regions” and turn them into plays!
If the benefits were significant enough, people would be willing to travel even farther than the Western Regions! It would be much easier than sending envoys to negotiate trade, and they wouldn’t have to endure Wei Zheng’s criticism of their “wasteful spending.”
After all, the court’s officials were conscripted from the common people. They were never enthusiastic about working for free. If the government forced them to go to the Western Regions for procurement, they would definitely cause a commotion.
In the past, Emperor Li wanted to escape the heat in Luoyang. Even his personal guards, fearing the arduous journey, had aimed arrows at his bedroom, hoping to dissuade him from the idea. During the end of the Sui Dynasty, conscripts tasked with collecting beautiful women for the Emperor had even sunk their boat, finding the journey too arduous.
Therefore, it was better to persuade people to volunteer than to force them.
Merchants, driven by profit, were the easiest to persuade. As long as there was something to gain, they would do anything!
After spending time with Li Yuanying, Li Chengqian had developed his own ideas. Having put his plan into action, Li Chengqian wrote a letter to Li Yuanying, informing him that if “Record of the Western Regions” turned out well, he would send it to Tengzhou for Li Yuanying to read immediately.
Li Yuanying received the letter while he was asking Luo Binwang to draft an invitation to gather insightful individuals from Henan Road for a gathering. These individuals included, but were not limited to, members of prestigious families, wealthy landlords, and influential figures. Anyone with money, connections, grain, or anything else of value was welcome!
Li Yuanying had been in Henan Road for a while. Those who wanted to learn about him had already done their research. Many people knew that besides his reputation as a mischievous little devil, he had also accomplished a great deal. Before being granted a fiefdom, he had encouraged residents of Huxian to donate money to repair Cuiwei Palace!
However, the Huxian residents who had contributed money had not suffered any losses. At least this year, many affluent individuals in Henan Road had heard about the situation in Chang’an where watermelons were scarce.
Those watermelons were cultivated according to Li Yuanying’s instructions. They had thin, emerald green rinds and bright red, juicy flesh. One bite, and the sweet juice was enough to dispel the summer heat! All those in Huxian who had successfully grown these watermelons had made a fortune. The profits far exceeded their donations.
Even if others could cultivate them next year, they wouldn’t lose out because they had made this profit. Moreover, cultivating watermelons wasn’t a simple task. It required specific soil conditions and cultivation techniques. As the proverb goes, “A tangerine tree planted south of the Huai River bears tangerines, but planted north of the Huai River bears a sour orange.” The same watermelon seeds might not yield the same quality fruit in other regions as they do in Huxian.
Therefore, this Prince Tang was actually a kind-hearted person.
While people were reluctant to get involved with Li Yuanying, they were curious about his intentions for inviting them. Many hesitated about whether to attend the gathering. If they sent a steward, would they be able to make the right decisions in a major event like the repair of Cuiwei Palace?
Many were uncertain, asking their acquaintances about their plans, hoping to gauge whether they should attend. They felt that if everyone else went, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing for them to go as well. Of course, because they all had the same idea, they would vaguely evade the question, unwilling to be the first to give a definitive answer.
Li Yuanying, as the organizer of this “mobilization conference,” was in no hurry. After sending out the invitations, he continued his daily routine of inspecting the academy, observing the enrollment and teaching situation.
Tengzhou had its own state school, but it didn’t offer elementary education. Students who entered were already aspiring scholars preparing for the civil service exams, spending three to five years in preparation. The academy had incorporated the state school and added elementary classes, basic classes, and various specialized departments. Now, every day, the students were led by their instructors for laps around the vast fields belonging to the academy, creating a lively scene.
This idea was proposed by Wu Mei. Firstly, it served to strengthen the students’ physical condition so they could pursue their studies healthily. Secondly, it allowed them to see the land Li Yuanying had allocated to the academy every day, reminding them of his generosity. This way, he wouldn’t be raising a generation of ungrateful individuals. If he was doing good deeds, it was only right for them to know!
Wu Mei wouldn’t let Li Yuanying use her land as farmland to support the academy students for nothing. She didn’t demand their allegiance to Li Yuanying, but she at least wanted them to be grateful.
Li Yuanying occasionally visited the academy to watch the students running around the fields in the morning.
Seeing the increasing number of new faces, Li Yuanying felt a sense of fulfillment. These individuals would either enter the government or various professions. Regardless of what they achieved, they would contribute to the Tang Dynasty. Even for a vast empire like the Tang Dynasty, this small group of people didn’t seem like much. However, cultivating generations of such individuals would always have some benefit.
One day, after inspecting the academy, Li Yuanying received a letter from his nephew. After reading it, he became interested in Xuanzang and agreed with his nephew’s proposal. It was time for Xuanzang to reveal the treasures of the Western Regions, encouraging merchants to bring them back.
In his reply, Li Yuanying showered Li Chengqian with praise, elevating him to unparalleled heights. He concluded his letter by reminiscing about the days when they would sing, dance, and feast on roasted whole ox and sheep, expressing his profound longing for his nephew in a way that was embarrassingly sentimental!
Just as he was about to send his letters to Chang’an, Li Yuanying decided to write to Emperor Li as well, outlining his plans for the “Pearl of the East” project.
As he let the letters dry, Luo Binwang approached him, reminding him to check on the banquet venue’s arrangements. Li Yuanying nodded in agreement, casually sealed the two letters and followed Luo Binwang to inspect the venue.
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