Empress Changsun sat down and said, "Such a thick book is made of paper. Even if it costs ten guan, there are still people who want it."
Li Shimin shook his head and said, "I don't think so. The value of paper lies in its ability to be written on. It's rare that you can print words on both sides of the page. If there is no place to write on, the value is not that great."
Empress Changsun frowned and said, "It's a bit of a waste."
Li Shimin put down the book in his hand, "I don't like the stories in the book either. A good man writes about such entanglements of love and hatred. Why doesn't he write about being loyal to the emperor and serving the country, or galloping on the battlefield? And this book is only half printed. Juan Red Mansion, unfortunately I have already seen it all."
Empress Changsun had a smile on her face. She had already finished reading it when Li Yue sent it to her. "Why don't Your Majesty let Zhang Yang write the story of the heroes from all walks of life who brought peace to the world?"
Li Shimin sighed in disappointment.
A piece of paper that cannot be written on is of course of little value. You can make more money by simply selling the paper. If you say that Zhang Yang is smart, he is quite capable. If you say that this child is not smart, it seems that he is buying a piece of paper now. Return the pearl.
In March of the sixth year of Zhenguan, news from Gaochang arrived, and Adalan sent news that he had rejected Tian Khan's summons.
Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji were very worried.
Ju Wentai and his son were escorted to Gaochang, where they were hung alive in the sun by tens of thousands of people from the Western Regions. Some even cut off the dried meat and took it home to eat.
I really eat the meat raw and hate it to the core.
"Didn't he say anything other than refusal?"
Changsun Wuji handed the parchment to Fang Xuanling, "There really is nothing else."
Fang Xuanling took another look and said, "We sent King Gaochang back, why did he still refuse? Is this really from Gaochang?"
"Someone from the Ministry of War personally went to Gaochang to deliver it. Is there anything wrong?"
Fang Xuanling put down the parchment in frustration, "What should I do now?"
Changsun Wuji held his forehead and said, "It was the Ministry of Rites' arrangement to send Adalan to Gaochang."
Fang Xuanling frowned and said, "What Duke Zhao Guo means is..."
Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and said, "Call Xu Jingzong."
"Here."
With Li Baiyao taking care of the chores of the Ministry of Rites, including writing memorials, summarizing the affairs of the Ministry of Rites and reporting to the Ministry of Education, Xu Jingzong was in a very good mood recently. He was either sleeping in the government office or going out to drink with Zhang Xiangxiang all day long. Among the few people in the Ministry of Rites, The relationship between them is getting better and better.
"Brother Xu? Wake up quickly."
Hearing Zhang Xiangxiang's urging, Xu Jingzong raised his head sleepily, "What's the matter?"
Lying on the desk, Xu Jingzong saw an official from Zhongshu Province and understood immediately.
In the early morning, I heard that Gao Chang's letter had arrived.
Xu Jingzong straightened his clothes and listened to the little official explaining his purpose.
According to Zhongshu Sheng's idea, the imperial court sent Ju Wentai and his son back to Gaochang. Gaochang garrison general Adalan considered it for the sake of Tian Khan, and added that the matter of escorting people to Gaochang was reasonable. Lan shouldn't refuse like this.
But they thought wrongly, Adalan was Zhang Yang's person.
Xu Jingzong followed people all the way to Zhongshu Province and met Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji.
Nowadays, many powers in the court are handed over to Zhongshu Sheng. Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, and Wei Zheng are the most prominent figures in the court.
"Xu Jingzong! Why is Adalan?"
As soon as he entered, he heard Changsun Wuji's question. Xu Jingzong lowered his head and bowed, "What does Duke Zhao mean by these words?"
"Why did Adalan refuse the summons of Tian Khan!"
Changsun Wuji asked again.
Xu Jingzong cupped his hands and said: "Back to Duke Zhao, Adalan is a minister of Tuyuhun. The Prince of Gaochang agreed to let him go to Gaochang, and he also recommended himself. At that time, the Ministry of Rites did not think so much."
Seeing that Changsun Wuji still had suspicious eyes, Xu Jingzong sighed, and then explained: "Does Zhao Guo suspect that the subordinates are causing trouble?"
"I didn't think so."
Changsun Wuji said in a loud voice.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Jingzong was speechless and said: "I dare to say something. When the Ministry of Rites sent Adalan to help Gaochang, the Ministry of Rites did not want to see it end up in this situation. Furthermore, if Adalan is now guarding Gaochang, if he Wouldn't it be better to accept His Majesty's summons, and everyone would be happy, and maybe I could get some rewards from it?"
"The official is dedicated to serving the country and has done these things to repay the king. Is it appropriate to blame the official just because Adalan refuses?"
Xu Jingzong raised his head this time and looked directly at Changsun Wuji.
Fang Xuanling smiled and said: "Zhao Guogong is just asking, don't worry too much."
"I'm taking my leave." Xu Jingzong waved his sleeves and left.
In Zhongshu Province, the two people still looked solemn.
"What do you think, Duke Zhao Guo?" Fang Xuanling asked in a low voice.
"To reach this point in one year, I always feel that there is an expert behind this Adalan." Changsun Wuji lowered his voice.
"Ju Wentai and his son are extremely stupid. Even if it weren't for Adalan, the DPRK would have captured Gaochang sooner or later. It's a matter of time."
"Now Gaochang can only try to figure it out slowly, and it will take a lot of trouble."
It was rare to see Changsun Wuji with a frustrated look on his face. Fang Xuanling looked at it with a smile: "Zhao Guogong doesn't have to care about temporary gains and losses. In the future, Gaochang will belong to the Tang Dynasty."
At a street corner in Chang'an City, dozens of men were sitting cross-legged on the ground eating millet rice. The sound of chopsticks hitting bowls could be clearly heard.
Zhang Yang looked at this scene with his hands folded.
When all these people stood up after eating, Cheng Chu said silently: "Are you all full?"
"I am full."
Everyone shouted in unison.
Cheng Chumo nodded after listening, "Those people are inhumane! I heard that they have all gone to Youzhou now. Brothers, can you bear this?"
"Can't bear it!"
Everyone shouted again.
Cheng Chumo's big eyes stared, "Go now and capture everyone for so and so. We must catch them alive and there will be rewards."
"Here!"
A group of men finished their meal, wiped their mouths with their sleeves, and left together.
Not far away, there were two officers and soldiers looking and pointing from a distance.
Zhang Yang bumped Cheng Chumo's arm, "Are those officers and soldiers okay?"
Cheng Chumo snorted coldly: "Everything I do is to eliminate harm for the people."
"Right."
Zhang Yang mentioned the basket of meat and vegetables he just bought, "If there's nothing else to do, I'll go home and cook."
"Wait a minute."
"Brother Chu Mo, what else can you do?"
"Did my old man say he wanted you to have a spanking?"
Zhang Yang frowned and said in confusion, "I have never had any enmity or enmity with the general."
Cheng Chumo nodded, "It's true that there is no grievance or enmity. It's just that you are such a prodigal. What kind of books did you sell? All the money you finally earned was lost to you."
"This business is my own, and I didn't let the general lose money."
Cheng Chumo snorted coldly: "You haven't lost any money, and you are doing business with my Cheng family. You can be shameless, but my old guy can't be shameless. Don't sell like this again in the future, otherwise..."
"What else would happen?"
"Otherwise, my old guy will come to meet you in person."
"Thank you, Brother Chumo, for informing me. I'll take my leave now." Zhang Yang bowed his hand again.
As soon as I walked to the door of my house, I heard Aunt Wang telling Li Yue about Li Shimin's reaction when he saw the Red Mansion, and also ordered that neither the Hongwen Museum nor the Imperial College should include the book.
The Water Margin, told by Cheng Chumo, is a story about a group of heroes who refused to surrender to oppression and rebellion, while Dream of Red Mansions is a tragic story of beautiful and broken things.
Come to think of it, Li Shimin didn't like either of these stories.
Zhang Yang walked into the house carrying a vegetable basket.
Li Yue looked into the basket curiously, "What are you going to eat today?"
"I bought some bamboo shoots and radishes to stew meat."
"Yes." Li Yue smiled happily, and then continued to cut the paper on the table.
She has already used the third booklet, but I don’t know where she hid the first two. In addition to recording the knowledge points she learned, she also has the habit of writing a diary.
He picked up the little bear lying next to the earthen stove and threw it into the woodshed.
There is still some residual warmth from the charcoal in the earthen stove. It is always warm here. It likes to lie down in a warm place, and it also has the smell of sawdust that it likes.
"Husband, what book should we print next?"
"It's still the Red Mansion."
"Don't you want to change it?"
Looking at his wife's puzzled eyes, Zhang Yang nodded, "It's still the Red Mansion, I won't change it."
After the meat is blanched, it needs to be simmered for a while. The bamboo shoot stew needs to be cooked for an hour or two, and then some radishes are added.
Sitting beside the earthen stove, Zhang Yang picked up a map and a volume of books.
This volume was brought from the Chongwen Palace, which contains many books from the former Sui Dynasty. If you look closely, these books are very comprehensive, and some of the more obscure books are not even found in the Imperial College.
From geography to medicine classics, from medicine classics to understanding Chinese characters, there are even books such as those written by craftsmen.
The volume in hand records the specific locations of various small countries in the Western Regions during the former Sui Dynasty.
Roll out the map and mark each location according to the records in the scroll.
The little bear came over again, lying next to the earthen stove with his eyes closed.
"Are you really not afraid of roasting yourself?"
As if he understood the words, the bear shook his head, fearing that he was really going to become a spirit.
Although it is still young, it is strong after being fed with food for so long, and its hair is also very good.
Now Li Yue can no longer hold it.
I pushed the little bear lying on the ground to keep it from getting too close to the fire.
Zhang Yang continued to mark the map. The Western Region started from Xiaowu of the Han Dynasty, and there were thirty-six countries. South of Wusun, there were mountains in the north and south, the most famous of which was the Tianshan Mountains.
It stretches more than six thousand miles from east to west, from Yumen and Yangguan to Congling.
The small countries in the Western Region are mainly distributed on the edge of the Tarim Basin, Turpan Basin and the Junggar Basin to the north. These small countries are near oases, and the prosperity of a small country is also related to the oases.
Oasis are rare in the Western Region and are also a very important resource.
Most wars also start from oases.
The book records the development of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty. Gaochang, Jiaohe, and Tianshan were based on these three places, which created the prosperity of trade in the Western Regions.
The former Rouran, Gaoche and other small countries were also included in Gaochang.
The aroma of stew filled the yard. It was dinner time, and Li Shimin came again.
Is it ridiculous for an emperor to come to his house every day to have a meal?
Zhang Yang put the food on the table and didn't bother to salute. After all, he was so familiar with the emperor. He still said politely: "These are some home-cooked dishes. I hope your majesty won't dislike them."
Li Shimin sat down unceremoniously, picked up a piece of stew and chewed it in his mouth.
Li Yue served a bowl of millet rice in a sensible manner, "Father, please have a meal."
"Yes." Li Shimin nodded, took the rice bowl, and picked up a piece of radish from the stew.
The couple just stood aside. The emperor didn't speak and it was difficult to sit down and eat together. Moreover, he was not in the habit of eating at the same table.
Li Shimin glanced at the little bear and said, "This animal can be slaughtered if it is raised for a while. Its fur is also good."
Zhang Yang smiled bitterly and said: "If Your Majesty likes furs, I can have some sent to the palace. This animal cannot be killed."
"Why can't you kill?"
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said: "After raising it, it will be used for housekeeping and nursing home."
"Looking after the house? Can't you just recruit a few guards?"
"When this animal is raised, one bear can withstand ten adult men, and it saves money."
"You are obsessed with making money, but I see why you are so out of touch with selling books."
"What does it mean to be out of tune?"
After finishing a bowl of millet rice, Li Shimin put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "It doesn't matter, your own money has nothing to do with me. I originally wanted to see my father and stopped by to see Yue'er."
Seeing his father's thoughtful gaze, Li Yue bowed solemnly, "Everything is fine with my daughter."
"I read the book you sold, and it was about the story of the Red Mansion. There were some things in the book that were not on the table. I know that you are a good storyteller, and you can also write some stories about loyal service to the country."
"Your Majesty, the story of the Red Mansion is not so unremarkable, right?"
"Do you think scholars will like this kind of story?"
There is no difference between arguing with the emperor and seeking death. Zhang Yang said helplessly: "Your Majesty has taught you a lesson."
For the emperor, except for books that are useful to the country, other books do not need to exist.
You are strong, you are strong, the breeze is blowing on the hills.
You do whatever you want, the bright moon shines on the river.
Stay calm and calm.
Li Shimin took another cup of tea and blew the tea leaves.
In other people's homes, you, Li Shimin, are more comfortable than your master's home.
"Have you heard about Gaochang?"
After hearing the question, Zhang Yang replied: "I have been busy sorting out books in Chongwen Hall recently, but I haven't heard anything? What happened to Gaochang?"
"Gaochang garrison general refused my summons."
"Is this happening?"
Li Shimin nodded, "What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I thought that Xu Jingzong should be allowed to lead three thousand troops to Gaochang and slap him twice, but I didn't give Tian Khan the face. I wanted to let him know the power of the Tang Dynasty, make him tremble, make him surrender, and make him stop making mistakes. .”
It was a very pleasant and enjoyable speech. Li Shimin took a sip of tea and said, "These generous words have allowed Xu Jingzong to lead troops to Gaochang. Why don't you go?"
"Your Majesty, I am a scholar. I cannot lead troops to fight."
"Xu Jingzong is also a scholar."
"I often hear Minister Xu's lofty words saying that he will conquer thousands of miles of mountains and rivers for your Majesty. He has great ambitions and a great cause. Your Majesty should also give people an opportunity to display his ambitions."
"Chance?"
"Let him try it in the Western Regions."
"Haha, of course I know what Xu Jingzong is capable of. He might have found an excuse to escape halfway to the Western Regions."
Zhang Yang was melancholy for a long time and said, "Your Majesty knows people well and makes good use of them. I admire you."
"Why did Xu Jingzong offend you?"
(End of chapter)
