Chapter 173
At the beginning of the year, Xuanzang had submitted a petition to the imperial court, stating that he was nearing the Anxi Protectorate. He had to submit a document, for without it he will have difficulty returning to Tang.
Fang Xuanling had someone approve Xuanzang’s travel documents, and he officially set out for Tang Empire. Passing through Gaochang, he stayed for a bit to perform a ritual for the late king of Gaochang. He had previously passed through Gaochang on his pilgrimage, and had a delightful conversation; both agreeing to meet again someday. However, his friend had passed away, and Gaochang had become part of Tang Dynasty’s Anxi Protectorate.
It was here that where he learned about the many changes taking place; such as Prince Teng’s team being dispatched to spread Buddhism to the Tibetan tribes and his tea business. While ordinary citizens had no opportunity to buy tea, the dignitaries could taste it.
The son of the late King of Gaochang also returned home. Finding out that his late father’s old friend is here, he personally greeted Xuanzang and they had a cup of tea together.
Xuanzang was truly astonished as he was told about the story of a tea business infused with Buddhist allusions. Even the tea’s bitterness was profoundly flavorful, perfectly in line with the Buddhist path of practice!
Xuanzang left Chang’an in the 3rd year of Zhen Guan reign. At that time, Li Yuanying wasn’t even born yet so he had not heard about this Prince Teng.
After hearing about Yuanying’s deeds , he left an impression on Xuanzang. He had spent over a decade traveling for religious purposes so he naturally wanted to spread it. To gain wide acceptance of his works, he needed His Majesty’s approval!
During his journey through 110 countries, he had seen and heard a wealth of things. Along the way, he had observed local customs, people and things . He believes that these insights would be useful to the Imperial Court.
Xuanzang carefully compiled his work, hoping to gain the court’s approval.
Summer came and the weather was scorching hot. The Emperor brought his team to Cuiwei Palace to escape the summer heat, leaving the Crown Prince in Chang’an.
Having heard that Xuanzang had returned and was staying at Hongfu Temple, Chengqian entertained the idea of meeting him.
Compared to the atheist Emperor, Chengqian had better understanding of Buddhist philosophy. However, after Li Yuanying’s tea-drinking rant, Chengqian grasped the proper approach to Buddhism: pick out what’s beneficial to believe, pick out what’s useful to learn. Believing in some principles is fine, but believing in all isn’t necessary. Who knows if they might misinterpret the scriptures? In any case, choose the good to follow and correct the bad!
With this extremely upright attitude, Chengqian met Xuanzang.
Though somewhat disappointed, Xuanzang nonetheless took his meeting seriously. He recounted his experiences on the pilgrimage. His journey had been filled with countless hardships and dangers, and he is likely win Chengqian’s respect!
Xuanzang miscalculated. Chengqian found the story unremarkable; he had heard dozens of such tales from Yuanying before! While the location and people are different, the story is equally thrilling and full of twists and turns.
Recently, FengThai restaurant has been combining music with folk storytelling. By comparison, Xuanzang’s tale seems rather dull!
After listening to two excerpts, Chengqian lost interest and told Xuanzang to stop. He suggested organizing a team to help compile a book for the court’s reference.
As if Chengqian felt that the trauma to Xuanzang wasn’t severe enough, he ordered several copies of <> for his reference. He told Xuanzang to compare these books and to record about local products, customs, population, and livestock domestication.
Chengqian earnestly shook Xuanzang’s hand and instructed him: “In previous years, many Buddhist disciples have traveled to Tibet and the Turks to spread the Dharma. Since Master Xuanzang have obtained the true scriptures, we must certainly send out groups to teach them. I’ll leave this matter in your care, Master Xuanzang!”
Xuanzang’s face froze, and he could only force a smile. 19 years had passed since his return, and Chang’an had changed dramatically. The once childish Crown Prince had grown beyond recognition! It was hard to imagine that this elegant and calm young man was the same lively and active young Crown Prince!
Also, why were so many Buddhist disciples constantly traveling to places like Tibet and the Turks? When he set out to seek the sutra, so few supported his plan!
Did he lose touch with present-day Chang’an for being away for 20 years?
Xuan Zang felt that he needed to fully understand Chang’an’s current situation before making any plans.
…
After meeting Xuanzang, Chengqian though about the man’s journey and concluded that he had a tough one, he just wasn’t a very good storyteller.
He ordered a group to assist Xuanzang to write his book. He made sure to select talented writers as he wanted to ensure the book called <> to be detailed and engaging. Ideally, it should also depict the beauty of the Western Regions so that more traders would be encouraged to endure the arduous journey and retrieve more treasures back.
The best option would be to have Chengxin’s group adapt interesting passages from the book into an actual play!
As long as benefits were substantial, people will surely be willing to travel. Not just to the Western Regions but even to further lands ahead! This is a better and far easier option that to painstakingly send envoys out to negotiate. This way they wouldn’t face criticism from the ministers for wasting resources.
The government recruit workers from the common people and they are never willing to work for free. If they were forced to travel far to procure items for the government, these men will absolutely riot!
Whenever the Emperor wants to escape the summer heat by travelling to Luoyang, his accompanying guards unwilling to endure the arduous journey, even shoots arrows at his bedroom in an attempt to dissuade him. At the end of Sui Empire, officials traveling to various regions to collect concubines from the imperial court sank the boats carrying them after finding the journey too rough.
In conclusion, instead of forcing people to work for you, you should instead make them volunteer to do it.
Merchants are naturally the easiest to persuade. Driven by profit, they’re willing to do anything for money!
Having spent considerable time with Yuanying, Chengqian now thinks well and had his own ideas. He wrote to Yuanying telling him that if the <> was well-written, he would send him a copy immediately.
When Yuanying got the letter, he was working with Luo Binwang and were writing invitations for learned individuals from Henan Province to a gathering. These included but were not limited to powerful families and wealthy households—anyone with money, power or anything of substance were welcome!
Yuanying has been in Henan Province for quite some time now and many has done their investigation on him. Many knew that besides his infamous reputation as a troublemaker, Li Yuanying had accomplished many other things, such as rallying the people to donate money to repair Cuiwei Palace before taking up this post!
In reality, the people who contributed didn’t lose out. Many heard about the shortage of watermelons in Chang’an.
These watermelons were grown after being guided by Li Yuanying. They had thin, lovely emerald-green skin and was juicy with bright red flesh. One bite, and the sweet juice was enough to dispel the sweltering heat of summer! Everyone in Hu County who grew these watermelons made a fortune—their earnings no less than the money they donated!
Even if others will eventually also learn how to grow these crops, they will not lose profit. After all melons aren’t easy to harvest, you need the right soil and planting techniques. It’s said that oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are sweet oranges, but those from north were bitter oranges. The same melon seed won’t necessarily produce watermelons as good as those grown in Hu County!
Therefore, Prince Teng is a kind person.
Although people were reluctant to get involved with Li Yuanying, they were curious to know what he wanted to discuss with them. Many who received invitations were quite hesitant about whether to attend. If they sent a steward, could they make the right decision immediately on a major issue?
Many were unsure and were asking around for opinions. They all felt that if everyone were to go, then it wouldn’t be too shameful to attend as well. Of course, because everyone had this same thought in mind, they gave vague answers and no one wanted to be the first to confirm attendance!
As the organizer Yuanying was not in a hurry. After sending out invitations, he continued to patrol the Academy to check on the enrollment and teaching situation.
Tengzhou already had a state school, but it didn’t provide basic education; students were expected to already participate in the imperial examinations after 3 to 5 years of study. The academy incorporated the state school, the added in introductory classes, foundation classes, and various specialized departments. Now, students led by their teachers, run laps around the large school field every day, creating a lively scene.
This was proposed by Wu Mei. Firstly, to improve physical fitness so that they could study healthily; secondly, to let them see the land Li Yuanying had allocated, so that they would remember Yuanying’s kindness. This is so that their efforts will not go to waste if the students turned out to be a bunch of ungrateful wretches—since good deed is done, they should loudly publicize it!
Wu Mei will not allow land to be used for nothing. She isn’t expecting the students to be didn’t completely subservient in the future, but at least she wanted them to be grateful.
Yuanying would occasionally go and watch the students jog around the field.
Looking at the increasing number of new faces, he felt satisfied. These people would either enter the imperial court or join various professions in the future. Whatever they are doing, they will all be contributing to Tang! Even if a small group was insignificant to the vast Tang Dynasty, training them batch after batch would surely be useful!
Right after his trip, Yuanying received the letter from his eldest nephew. He read it and finds Xuanzang interesting. He also agrees with the Crown Prince’s ideas. It was time to have Xuanzang tell them about the good things seen at the Western Regions and encourage merchants to bring them back!
Li Yuanying replied with lavish praise for Chengqian, extolling him to the skies. At the end, he fondly recalled the days they spent singing, dancing, and eating together, expressing his deep longing for his nephew—it was incredibly cringy!
As the letter is to be delivered to Chang’an,Yuanying also wrote a letter to the Emperor outlining his plans for the “Pearl of the Orient” project.
While the letter was still drying, Luo Binwang approached and reminded him to check on the banquet venue’s arrangements. Yuanying nodded, casually put the two letters away, and followed Luo Binwang to the banquet area.
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Young Prince: Something feels off.
Young Prince: Never mind, I can’t figure out what it is!